One thing I notice about opportunists, schemers and connivers is that they eventually turn competitors into collaborators. By standing together and supporting one another, they continue to win. Ironically, despite rising through dishonest means, they often show loyalty and integrity toward those they choose to collaborate with in politics, business, life etc.,
We keep asking the same questions: Why do bad people seem to win? How do they become so successful? This is one of the traits I have observed in them.
When I say collaborators, I mean the people you choose to share your life or career with: your colleague, sibling, mentor, mentee, spouse, children, friend, boss, employee or anyone else you have chosen to grow alongside and support.
Yet many so-called good people, through their own delusions, judgements, inaction, ingratitude and lack of vision, slowly allow jealousy and envy to grow within them. They become distant and begin to see their collaborators as competitors.
When a collaborator rises above us, instead of drawing inspiration and learning to grow, we see them as a threat and begin competing. Competition is fine if it leads to growth. But some people fear being outgrown because growth requires effort. So they wait and watch, hoping those collaborators will fall apart so that they can feel secure.
If this describes you, understand what your attitude reveals, even if you never admit it: "I refuse to grow, and I cannot bear to see others outgrow me. My fear of being outgrown makes me reject the environments that could inspire growth."
In a world where people succeed by turning competitors into collaborators, how can you expect to succeed by treating your closest collaborators as competitors?
— SCD Balaji
