[robinjhuang]

I like what Kevin Systrom said on a podcast about being competitive. (Paraphrasing) He said he was not the type of person to need to beat someone else in everything. He doesn't need to be number 1 all the time. But he was competitive with himself. He would set goals, and try to reach them. Personally, I think this type of competition is very healthy and will lead to a fulfilling life.

Set your own goals. Don't just ladder-climb or be competitive for the sake of it. Don't live someone else's life.

[hutzlibu]

I did not know that guy, but it seems I agree to him.

"Set your own goals."

Just be careful, that they are truly your goals.

All those poor wannabe models for example, who believed they need to maintain the goal of a certain very low weight and in effect developed bulimia? The same can happen with any goals.

So always be free to drop or change your goals, if you find they no longer fit, or were not smart to begin with.

But this if of course the hard part: figuring out when you give up on a goal - is it, because you are just lazy and should maintain discipline - or was it really a wrong or unrealistic goal?

So be realistic, if you set goals as it is of course not ideal to your morale, to drop goals, instead of accomplishing them.