by Ryan Farmer, chief operating officer
Recently, Mad Genius has been doing some introspective questioning. Who are we, really? Why are we like this? Do our quality traits entice people to swipe left or right? The official byproduct of this journey is the identification and definition of our very own core values. A genius in our labs is creative, curious, competitive, collaborative, and courageous. All great values, yes. There can only be one best* quality to rule them all, and the best core value is naturally…competitiveness.
This will be the best article you’ve read today about competition.
Fight me.
“So, What Is Competitiveness?”
The official definitions sound like they were written by Charlie Sheen:
/kəmˈpedidivnəs/
noun
- possession of a strong desire to be more successful than others.
- the quality of being as good as or better than others of a comparable nature.
We can live with those.
My wife and I are intensely competitive. First thing we do in the morning? Roll over with a hug, a gentle peck on the forehead, and the optimistic promise of Carpe Diem? Not quite because you know, morning breath and all. No, we pull out our smartphones and see who can get the NYT Wordle in the fewest attempts. (STERN is the best start word, btw.)
Competitiveness does not always mean winning, though. It’s the vigilant pursuit of success. Take this from a lifelong UGA Football fan, who has a long history of sadness and disappointment through perennial “almost winning.” But, the hunt and failure for victory makes that victory oh-so special.
Every genius in our labs is extremely driven to fight for making something special.
“Why Is It One of Your Five Core Values?”
Without competition, our product is at risk of becoming complacent. If we deliver the same thing that anyone else with a computer and Creative Cloud can do, then we are a few bad bounces away from irrelevancy. Competition is the proverbial iron sharpening the iron of creativity.
Speaking of creativity, competition is a natural part of the creative process—a process often misunderstood. Good ideas should beat out mediocre and bad ideas. It takes a lot of hard work to generate enough good ideas to test, discern, and build around a winning solution. Jordan and Tiger aren’t the GOATS because of their talent. They possess an almost unhealthy drive within them to outwork everyone in their path. We aren’t claiming to be the GOAT of creative strategy. We simply recognize that it’s not enough to rest on talent alone. Likewise, we don’t create solutions for artistic expression. We make things to win. Whether that is winning attention, affection, or ambassadors.
“Cool Story, but How Can That Be Good for Me?”
When Mad Genius does our best work, the genius generates from small groups of diverse internal teams, working together to discover the winning solution, in a mad way. This means that your problem gets approached from unexpected perspectives, both in background and skill set, which ultimately yields a product forged between scrutiny and ambition. Each team wants their idea to win, so your brand can win on the battlefield of attention.
The success of any client of Mad Genius is passionately fought for. We want to fully capitalize on your strengths and take advantage of your competitor’s weaknesses. The great philosopher Conan the Barbarian said it best when describing what is best in life.**
Just win, baby.
If you are interested in teaming up with Mad Genius, or want to come over and challenge us to a match of ping-pong, drop us a line.
Contact Us*subject to interpretation
**Mad Genius does not condone tribal conquest nor any competitor gnashing of teeth