BLOG SPOT - TO COMPETE OR NOT TO COMPETE...

BY Anna De Sanctis

After attending the AMBA’s last night, I thought it was only fitting to base this blog on the value of healthy competition.

I’ve come across some compelling and interesting views on whether it’s healthy to compete or not compete, and would love to share with you, my views.

To set the tone, last night we celebrated Australian barbering at the highest level. A room filled with artists, product companies, mentors, and some of the barbering’s most elite.

Linda and her Mocha team really know how to throw a good party, with the venue on point, entertainment spot on and the drinks flowing endlessly. It’s always nice to see familiar faces, and of course, new ones too. We like to look at not just and awards night, but our annual reunion, a reunion in which our industry desperately needed.

In context, competitions such as the AMBA’s is the perfect outlet for the creative souls of our industry, to express their flair and showcase their work at an exemplary level and to benchmark against their peers. Those who are motivated by competition are motivated by at least these three reasons:

- competition allows them to satisfy the need to win,

- competition provides the opportunity or reason for improving their performance, and

- competition motivates them to put forth greater effort that can result in a win.

Healthy competition increases self-esteem and incites increased effort to achieve personal goals. It is proven that healthy competition makes you stronger and builds resilience with many valuable lessons in both winning and losing.

I have always encouraged my family to be involved in competitions. From karate and soccer to footy and cheerleading. This provided my children with valuable life lessons, to learn what it feels like to not always win, become resilient and to identify areas for improvement.

Taking leaps out of their comfort zone into unfamiliar territory encourages growth. Now as young adults, they are forming their own coping strategies, proving that competitions have been a valuable learning experience.

For example, my daughter Caprice, has been recognised for her hairdressing creativity and is finalist in two categories for this year’s AHFA, after only 2 years. Seeing my little girls name up in lights at the gala dinner, is a very proud moment for me, I’m such a proud mamma. Win or lose, she gave it her best shot.

Let’s not forget the process that it takes to get there, which isn’t always an easy one. The most important step in the process is selecting the right team to support your journey and to have your family and friends cheer you on, those that want to stand in your corner. The next, deciding your category, workshopping your vision and endless practice sessions to perfect your hairstyles, to selecting your photographer, stylist, MUA, and submission writer, you may as well add Project Manager to your CV.

You only want the best in your camp. If you are employed within an organisation, discuss with your employer if they would support your journey. As an employer of barbers for over 20 years, Don is always excited when a team member wants to showcase their talent and represent Barber Boys. As an employer we see this as a demonstration of initiative and commitment, not just a 9-5 barber.

I’ve certainly seen over the years how our team members have continuously refined their work for competitions, this is growth, however winning is not the sole purpose of competing. The purpose of competing, the true reason why we as humans compete, is because competition brings out the very best in us and each other.

Competing brings innovation, new insights, and moments of individual accomplishment and collective teamwork. On top of that, it’s good for our bodies. Yes, physically competition increases psychological activation, which prepares our body and mind for increased effort and enables higher performance.

If you are fortunate enough to win an award, winning activates the reward sceptres in our brains and produces a rush of dopamine (the feel-good hormone) to the pleasure centre of your brain.

Returning from this year’s AMBA’s with our shiny new trophy for the Best Men’s Educator of the Year Organisation category safely boxed up and carried onto the plane, I have certainly had my boost of dopamine but as I mentioned in my acceptance speech, to those finalists who get to that point and even those that didn’t, I understand how hard it is and that in itself is the important part, enjoy the process, continue to invest in yourself and if you’re a shop owner, your team.

Whether you win or not networking with Australia’s barbering elite at a night like the AMBA’s is a win.

So, let’s get ready for 2024, bring it on and smash it out… win or lose it’s good for you!

@barberyaustralia