When Bill Secunda hauled his huge moose sculpture to Grand Rapids, Mich., last fall, he didn’t think he stood a chance at winning any of the ArtPrize’s $500,000 in awards. “We dropped it off and left,” he recalled.
But the moose, made of nails and other metal, drew admiration even amid 1,200 creations. By the end of the event where anyone could vote on their favorite pieces, Secunda, a self-taught metal sculpturist, had placed in the top 10. He also sold the moose and learned a lot.
A very competitive environment – such as a mass job interview, a cattle call for performers or a business plan competition – can energize or terrify, teach or tear down, depending on the event and your approach.
Secunda went to ArtPrize with a “what have we got to lose?” and “it’s a good learning experience” attitude. Here are some more approaches you can use at work, in your career, or for your business when faced with a competitive environment:
