The Power of Competing!
What competition really does (and why it matters in your home, your business, and your life)
Saturday morning. 5K parkrun.
I was easing through the pack, picking up the pace, passing a few runners. Then I spotted a young lad ahead… stopped, hands on hips, ready to quit.
I shouted, “No stopping now!”
He looked up, snapped out of it, and tucked in just behind me.
That’s when it got interesting.
I picked up the pace, he matched it.
I held steady, he stayed glued.
I eased off slightly… let him come through.
Wrong move.
Something switched on.
He started guarding his line, cutting corners, making sure I wasn’t getting past. That final stretch? He wasn’t running anymore… he was competing.
We crossed the line. Firm handshake.
Later that day, the results came through.
My time: 25:02.
I clicked his name…
PB – Personal best.
I’d just watched someone go from quitting… to their best ever run in a matter of minutes.
Then came the London Marathon
A world record got smashed.
Not edged. Not nudged. Smashed.
But here’s the real story most people miss:
First and second place both went under 2 HOURS previous record. A feat no one thought was possible. Including the commentators!
Second place… was running his first ever marathon.
Without each other pushing that pace, does that record fall?
Or do they both come close… but not quite?
—
What Competition Really Does
Competition isn’t just about winning.
It’s about unlocking levels you didn’t know existed.
That young lad didn’t suddenly get fitter in five minutes.
He didn’t download a new training plan mid-race.
He just had someone next to him who refused to let the pace drop.
And that changed everything.
In Business
If no one is competing with you, you get comfortable.
You stop refining your service.
You stop improving your product.
You start accepting “good enough.”
But the moment someone else enters your space?
You sharpen up.
At Roxannes Interiors, competition pushes us to:
Source better fabrics
Improve our finishes
Deliver cleaner, more precise installations
Give customers options they didn’t even know existed
Because “nice curtains” isn’t enough anymore.
It has to feel intentional, tailored, and elevated.
In Your Home
This might sound unexpected… but competition shows up here too.
When you see a well-designed space done properly, it raises your standards.
You start noticing:
How curtains fall
How tracks are fitted
How fabrics interact with light
Suddenly, basic isn’t enough.
You want your space to feel finished. Considered. Designed.
That’s the difference between:
Curtains that “do the job”
And curtains that transform a room
In Life
Competition isn’t always loud.
Sometimes it’s:
A friend getting fitter
Someone levelling up their mindset
A colleague raising the bar
It’s not about ego.
It’s about energy.
The right competition doesn’t drain you… it drives you.
The Real Lesson
That young lad didn’t beat me because he was better that morning.
He beat me because something switched on.
Competition flipped it.
Final Thought
Don’t avoid competition.
Find it.
Lean into it.
Even create it.
Because the right pressure won’t break you…
It will reveal what you’re actually capable of.
Thinking of upgrading your space?
At Roxannes Interiors, we don’t just install curtains and blinds.
We help you create a space that feels finished, elevated, and built around you.
📍 London & Kent
📩 Get in touch for a quote or design advice
🌐 www.roxannesinteriors.com
If you’ve read this far… you already know:
There’s always another level.
Sometimes, you just need the right push to reach it.