I’ve been watching way too many competition shows lately: Master Chef, Food Truck Race, one episode of America’s Next Top Model (I’m too old for that much drama, I want to go all psycho mom on the people and clean up their attitudes), and some old Survivor episodes. And K.A. Cheerleader is crying “Foul!”
A common theme is people who want to oust their toughest competitors not by going head-to-head with them, but rather by eliminating via group gang-ups or saving the weakest from the elimination battles.
They call it strategy. Here’s my issue with this whole strategy bunk: Strategy is good for things like, you have twelve hours of work to get done and six hours in which to do it. A good idea is to strategize and work out an efficient game plan. A strategy works for those in war: Lives are at stake, so taking out the toughest first makes sense – you do what you need to do to save the life of yourself and others.
Strategy in competition shows is weak. How can you say you’re the best Survivor, the next Master Chef, etc.., when you ’re too afraid to go up against your toughest opponent? How can you wear that title with pride knowing you got through taking the easy route? Saving the weakest because you feel you have the best chance of beating them, in the end, is spineless, not strategic.
I don’t follow boxing, but I’m pretty sure if someone wants one of those big gaudy belts, they need to work hard, they need to show their skills, they need to train their butts off, they need to compete against tougher and tougher competitors to get to the best. Then they have to beat the best to claim that title.
These competitive reality shows just show if you have a chance to get rid of your best competition, do it. Why work hard? You can wear a spiffy badge that says: I MIGHT be the best, but we will never know because I was too wimpy to keep the hardest, toughest competition in the race.”
I think one contestant on the current season of Master Chef said it best: (I’m paraphrasing because I can’t remember his exact line) the pressure tests are where we learn.
Right! When you go up against the best, you have to bring your A game. It forces you to keep pushing yourself and to keep learning and to continue using that knowledge.
If you want to be the best, you have to work for it. Don’t weasel out, earn that title rightfully.
We shouldn’t be afraid of competing against our toughest opponent. We should relish that moment. For that’s what makes us better. That is how we learn. That’s what we salivate and strive to achieve.
Give it your all for your dreams: Work hard, fall, get up, climb higher.