It is natural for businesses to see competition as the enemy. Deep down, most business owners fear competition because it eats up their market share, steals their customers, raids their staff and may even cause them to close shop. It's also true in our own personal and professional lives. People usually do not welcome having a competitor to challenge them. While most people are said to be competitive, when given the chance, they will go for the unopposed track.

For some, the absence of competition is often considered something positive and a sure path to success. This view, however, is damaging and unhealthy. We need competition. Competition is necessary as it helps businesses to grow and improve. Competition is needed because it's the only way that businesses and people will strive to be better and be more.

Competition lowers costs and the prices of goods and services. Remember the time when flying in an airplane was just a dream for most Filipinos because of the very steep fare of the only airline then. But when Cebu Pacific came and introduced the low base fare, we were all pleasantly surprised that flying in an airplane need not be that expensive.

They introduced the concept of Piso Fare and seat sales which allowed people to purchase in advance, their plane tickets at a very low price. This eventually caused competition to lower their fare and adopt the same marketing strategies. With all the promos available offered by the different flight carriers, it's even cheaper to take an airplane than a boat or a bus going to Manila.

Competition offers customers more choices and variety. There was a time when hotels and inns were the only options travelers had for their accommodations. Again, because of the limited choices, we were forced to take on the rates dictated by these hotels.

Some years after, we heard about service apartments ideal for traveling families and for longer stays. Then, Air BnB came into the picture and gave travelers a slew of accommodation alternatives. The same may be said about choosing the right person for a position. When we only have one candidate, we are forced to go for that candidate, even if he or she is not the best, only because we already need to fill the position.

Competition fosters efficiency and productivity. As people will look for quality but affordable goods and services, companies are challenged to run their operations in the most efficient and effective ways. Higher productivity is demanded from each member of the organization to ensure that the best quality goods and services are delivered but at an affordable cost.

Competition is the strong driving force that will push individuals and companies to be better and do more. Those who failed to acknowledge these become the victims of competition. The day we stop competing is the start of our own decline.

Jay Ledesma
Davao City