In the workplace and business world,there is either success or failure,yet no absolute fairness.It is the “unfairness”that makes the business world charming and weird.Normal competition,we call it competition with rivals,is a rough and struggling process.Therefore,it is smarter to add new elements into the competition.

When I was working as a digital media editor,the standard for being successful was decided by the number of articles with more than 100,000 views in a month.At the end of the month,it became harder and harder to win,since everyone’s writing talents and workload were quite similar,and it seemed that who worked harder was the only thing that mattered.I worked like crazy at the time.I worked hour after hour,overtime and on weekends.I didn’t take a rest and was forever working:selecting topics,looking for hot social issues,making plans,and writing.

Day in and day out for a whole year and a half,I became quite known as a digital media editor in the industry.However,I didn’t really win.I still devoted myself to writing articles day after day endlessly.But,one day I withdrew from this competition and became a lecturer; that is when I really won.

Being a good lecturer involves crafting better courses,having an energetic body,and gaining more popularity among training institutions and students.After some time,I quit again.I set up a we-media account and gained my own followers or fans.

This is how the growth mindset helps us grow in competitions.

Wei Ya (middle),the No.1 anchor on the Taobao Commerce Platform淘宝第一主播薇娅（中）

The essence of thinking differently is a competitive strategy in itself.Most people are scared of competition,which means fighting and snatching and discomfort.Yet those who have truly achieved great growth usually emerge from fierce competition.

Wei Ya,the No.1 anchor on the Taobao Commerce Platform,has won many first titles since 2017.Yet her top position was won through fierce competition.Since 2018,She has participated in Taobao Qualifying Sessions on the 26th of each month,and finally secured the position of No.1 in 2019.Now,as the top anchor,she still feels nervous and anxious in face of qualifying sessions.Why? Because a more powerful rival,Li Jiaqi,emerged in 2019.Wei Ya said that Li Jiaqi is her rival as well as her motivation,a figure that will inspire her to work harder and fight bravely to be better.How did Li Jiaqi become the dark horse? The secret is that Li had a growth mindset and found a way out.

At that time,Wei Ya was already the top anchor in Taobao Commerce Platform.If Li Jiaqi followed Wei Ya and competed against her in Taobao,there would be a slight chance for Li to overtake her.

In December 2018,Taobao manager in charge of live commerce suggested that Li Jiaqi should make a breakthrough in other social media platforms,expanding his influence and gaining followers,after which he could invite his fans to Taobao live commerce.Li Jiaqi adopted the strategy and successfully found a tool—Douyin.He started to post videos frequently on Douyin since December 23,2018.By November 11,2019,his Douyin account has more than 34 million followers.

Has it worked? Well,yes.On November 11,2018,Li Jiaqi had less than 1 million followers on Taobao live commerce; by November 11,2019,the number of followers has exceeded 10 million,an increase of more than 10 times within a year.

(FromLearning to Grow: 25 Ways of Thinking for Growth,Posts,and Telecom Press.Translation: Lu Qiongyao)