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#Post#: 9035--------------------------------------------------
Competition and Real Achievment
DIR By: Tony Chavarria
Date: September 26, 2011, 9:25 am
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I came across this article on one of my regular Internet stops
and thought that it could be meaningful to the hobby of breeding
and flying roller pigeons for its own sake vs a primary focus on
competing to improve the Birmingham Roller. I don’t expect
agreement, but to simply have the reader consider the conclusion
the author makes about competition in general.
My take-a-way from this article is that it should be encouraging
to the individual that simply wants to breed and fly better
rollers for its own sake. Here is the money quote:
“If you're dependent on competition then you're counting on the
quality of those that show up to determine how well you'll do.
Worse, you've signed up for a career of faux death matches as
the only way to do your best work.”
ARTICLE by Seth Godin
HTML http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/09/run-your-own-race.html:
Run Your Own Race
The rear view mirror is one of the most effective motivational
tools ever created.There's no doubt that many people speed up in
the face of competition. We ask, "how'd the rest of the class
do?" We listen for someone breathing down our necks. And we
discover that competition sometimes brings out our best.
There's a downside, though. Years ago, during my last
long-distance swim (across Long Island Sound... cold water,
jellyfish, the whole nine yards), the competitiveness was pretty
thick. On the boat to the starting line, there were hundreds of
swimmers, stretching, bragging, prancing and working themselves
up. By the time we hit the water, everyone was swimming someone
else's race. The start was an explosion of ego and adrenaline.
Twenty minutes later, half the field was exhausted, with three
hours left to go.
If you're going to count on the competition to bring out your
best work, you've surrendered control over your most important
asset. Real achievement comes from racing ahead when no one else
sees a path--and holding back when the rush isn't going where
you want to go.
If you're dependent on competition then you're counting on the
quality of those that show up to determine how well you'll do.
Worse, you've signed up for a career of faux death matches as
the only way to do your best work.
Self motivation is and always will be the most important form of
motivation. Driving with your eyes on the rear view mirror is
exhausting. It's easier than ever to measure your performance
against others, but if it's not helping you with your mission,
stop."
(emphasis mine)
ARTICLE SITE LINK
HTML http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/09/run-your-own-race.html
#Post#: 9037--------------------------------------------------
Re: Competition and Real Achievment
DIR By: OldSkool
Date: September 26, 2011, 9:46 am
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;D I Like this post !! Makes complete sense to me - very nice
post Tony - Yur da Man !! ;) " God Bless " Peace ~ Mike " Old
Skool Lofts "
#Post#: 9039--------------------------------------------------
Re: Competition and Real Achievment
DIR By: 2y4life
Date: September 26, 2011, 11:02 am
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I agree in part, self motivation should always be number 1 BUT
you never know what you have until you test it especially us
newer guys. I remember seeing rollers for the first time and
they were just spectacular. Just 1 year later and seeing some
quality kits at actual competitions, I realize that what I once
thought was spectacular, was indeed, mediocre at best. If I
stayed in my own backyard seeing just that one guy, my life in
rollers and expectations would've been set really low. Seeing
what I've seen traveling from CA to NC has shown me what these
birds are capable of.
If you compete for the sake of competing, you won't gain much.
If you compete to better yourself, you will go a long way...much
further than having absolutely no competition. JMHO
#Post#: 9040--------------------------------------------------
Re: Competition and Real Achievment
DIR By: Tony Chavarria
Date: September 26, 2011, 11:21 am
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Hi 2yforlife, I don't understand where the thinking came from
that only competitors get out of their backyards to see good
pigeons? Anyone can observe good birds without going to a
competition. Simply go where rest of the guys are going when
they want to watch good birds fly. If it takes competition for
someone to get out of the backyard, then it has been valuable IF
they see good birds in the process. Regardless of how one
experiences seeing good pigeons, it should be cause for
recalibrating ones own understanding and efforts toward breeding
better Birmingham Rollers. ;)
#Post#: 9041--------------------------------------------------
Re: Competition and Real Achievment
DIR By: Tony Chavarria
Date: September 26, 2011, 1:05 pm
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Hi Mike, thanks for that! ;D
#Post#: 9042--------------------------------------------------
Re: Competition and Real Achievment
DIR By: 2y4life
Date: September 26, 2011, 3:33 pm
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I think the author has a valid point but I also think there's
validity in the fact that competition does drive us to breed
better birds...or at least birds suited for competition.
I think this has been covered before but one does not have to
compete to have good birds, but the chances of one's birds being
good improves once s/he competes. That's where the rubber meets
the road. Of course competition can lead us astray from time to
time but done right, competition is what will help us get the
best out of our birds.
I'm talking about it from a beginner's standpoint and from the
standpoint of a person who's never flown competition before.
It's alot easier for me to have seen my kit, which I thought was
spectacular, and be satisfied with that because at the time, it
was spectacular. Going to see the competition kits, I saw my
share of kits that didn't do much as well as top notch kits. It
opened my eyes.
Now that my eyes are open and I've seen great birds, do I need
to compete to have great birds? Of course not but we can easily
fool ourselves into thinking we have great birds if all we do is
look at our birds all day long. A competition every once and a
while is good for everyone.
I'm not too big on competition but I will fly next year just to
see what I have and what my birds can do under me. For me, it is
a hobby first and foremost and always will be. A judge will come
but 4-5 times a year at the most and the rest of the 200 days,
I'm flying for myself.
Again, to each their own, enjoy the hobby and do as you like :)
. If you don't want to or don't like to compete, that's your
prerogative. If you want to compete, go ahead, as long as you
enjoy yourself in the process and learn more about your birds,
you've already won
#Post#: 9044--------------------------------------------------
Re: Competition and Real Achievment
DIR By: J_Star
Date: September 26, 2011, 8:01 pm
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Tony...your posts sounds like you are against competition
(lol). Competition is not about showing how good your birds are,
rather to show how good of a manger and a coach you are. It is
that simple.
The rule of thumb, in my book, is when you have a good stud of
rollers, your are more than eager to get in competition to fly
your birds and bask in the sun of pride with smile bigger than
the face. In retrospect, when the stock you have is not worthy
of showing to people, competition will sit on the back burner
with every excuse under the sun why competing is not healthy.
That is my observation thus far.
I have been all over the country and watched so many birds. The
good kits are always eager to perform with ease and it is like
the birds having fun doing it.
Jay Alnimer
#Post#: 9056--------------------------------------------------
Re: Competition and Real Achievment
DIR By: Sal Ortiz
Date: September 26, 2011, 10:22 pm
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Jay, is right on! I agree 100%
#Post#: 9057--------------------------------------------------
Re: Competition and Real Achievment
DIR By: Tony Chavarria
Date: September 26, 2011, 10:30 pm
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Hi Jay, I am absolutely not against competition. I think it has
a role in the hobby. Everyone should try it at least once. If
competition is what floats your boat, by all means, have at it.
However, I do endeavor to make intellectual room for those
legitimate fanciers who choose to not compete for their reasons
and who seem to be shouted down by the vocal minority that they
need to put up or shut up. Yes, I am a contrarian and go against
the conventional wisdom. So sue me! ;D
The benefits of competing can be realized by any serious student
of the Birmingham Roller without having to endure it. I don't
compete for a trophy or bragging rights, but in a broader sense
I do compete with my birds everyday in the free market where the
competition is real and winning provides for my family and
losing means I don't pay my bills. :o
Thus far, to my way of thinking, my "winning percentage" last
time I figured it was 63%. That is 63% of my customers buy from
me more than once, many of them even more than that. Talk about
putting your money where you mouth is! :D
"...Competition is not about showing how good your birds are,
rather to show how good of a manger and a coach you are. It is
that simple."
I don't think I ever read that before, I have always thought
that it was absolutely about how good the birds were as I don't
think they hand out points for management or coaching
techniques. Maybe I am wrong and missed some new rules change
announced in the NBRC bulletin as my membership has lapsed..?
:-[
/s
#Post#: 9060--------------------------------------------------
Re: Competition and Real Achievment
DIR By: OldSkool
Date: September 27, 2011, 12:51 am
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Tony - I again agree with You - Competition Guys are out to
breed a bunch of birds that spin spin spin so they can feel
proud of what their birds accomplished for them - a bunch of Big
Talking nasty people for the most part - I will try it one time
- next season so I can Put up or Shut Up --- sounds really
appealing to get into when people are low enough to say this
alone -- doesn't it ? " NOT " --My new saying is " Any Given '
Day , Any Given ' Judge .... Doesn't mean anyones birds are
better than anyones it just means it was their Lucky day --
Competition and what the NBRC stands for is pathetic - The NBRC
sits back and does nothing and makes A TON of money off of
people that I call " challenged " they need to win with their
birds to show people that they are good - 1st off how are You
good the birds did it - and to me and anyone that has half a
brain knows it's about talking birds , enjoying each others
company , learning and possibly meeting new friends --- All that
has been thrown out the window - Nobody cares any longer - Shit
if your a rookie like myself they I feel treat You like crap and
I believe its because they don't want anymore competition -
theres enough - but they sure want You to Put Up or Shut Up and
to give Your money to the big bad NBRC --- No Rules at all -
It's a club -- they let people treat their birds like crap - and
other club members also - and don't do crap except sit back and
make money off of it all --- It's one great big huge headache -
If You let it be --- I'd rather sit back in My yard have the
select few friends that come by to watch my birds and My family
come over and have everyone sit and chat and barbeque and look
up into the peaceful sky - saves on Gas , Headaches , Entry
Fee's and Time -- I would rather just show my birds in the
performing category at shows then get involved with most of the
people that compete - don't get me wrong there are a few good
ones here in Minnesota - @ The Shows at least I can try to get
the young people involved in pigeons and even though theres alot
of BS on that side of Pigeons I still think its alot less - so
far anyways --- I will fly come next season - have everyone
degrade my birds and I'll keep smiling because I train them to
My Liking Not ANYONE Elses -- Jay is missing the points - and
his quotes are Bogus - You say bask under the sunlight - and
that some won't fly if they don't have the goods -- What is the
goods in Your eyes , My eyes , that Judge that day Eyes or to
others - We all have different likings one way or another -
competition almost doesn't even make sense any longer - I
believe people once competed to bring people together peacefully
- and that is gone - get real !! Mike
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