I am of the opinion that material prosperity must be accompanied by internal growth if there is to be true progress. One without the other gives the appearance of progress, but look closely and you see that what appears from the outside to be an old western town is nothing more than a movie set, a flimsy facsimile of the real thing.
Much attention, time and effort is expended in relation to the furtherance of material goals, often to the exclusion of that which would counterbalance it from an internal standpoint. Many hide behind the mantra of competition, busily occupying themselves with outwardly-focused strategies and tactics, while ignoring the inner opportunities for development. This has the effect of increasing self-confidence, but fails to develop the self-reliance that comes only as a result of inner refinement.
“Man can develop his self-reliance by seeking constantly to surpass himself. We try too much to surpass others. If we seek ever to surpass ourselves, we are moving on a uniform line of progress, that gives a harmonious unifying to our growth in all its parts. Daniel Morrell, at one time President of the Cambria Rail Works, that employed 7,000 men and made a rail famed throughout the world, was asked the secret of the great success of the works. ‘We have no secret,’ he said, ‘but this,―we always try to beat our last batch of rails.’ Competition is good, but it has its danger side. There is a tendency to sacrifice real worth to mere appearance, to have seeming rather than reality. But the true competition is the competition of the individual with himself,―his present seeking to excel his past. This means real growth from within. Self-reliance develops it, and it develops self-reliance. Let the individual feel thus as to his own progress and possibilities, and he can almost create his life as he will. Let him never fall down in despair at dangers and sorrows at a distance; they may be harmless, like Bunyan’s stone lions, when he nears them.” ~ William George Jordan
Gregory Hake 
So true – great post!
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When I recall all the amazing lives that you have featured in your blog alone, more than the form of their accomplishments I appreciate the insight into how genius is possible to each of us, and each of us can do amazing works ourselves. But it is only on the basis that we keep setting our own bar higher.
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Wise words!
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Profound! – thank you – I’ve been enjoying reading your ‘trilogies’.
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My pleasure, Brad. Me too!
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Love the railroad story. Can you imagine an entire business whose goal is to deliver a better product than they did yesterday. I can envision 7000 people that want to do a better job than they did yesterday..,that would be 7000 self reliant individuals…what a difference they would make.
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I loved the simplicity of the goal. Inspiring and tenable!
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Human beings are so wonderfully constructed. The design that accords the growth of self reliance by competing with your own best is genius. We develop the unique gifts we each should bring by becoming a better individual. Competition with others develops a narrow range with a herd mentality.
Facinating subject that grants peace and success as it is mastered, thank you.
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What a great view of competition and the importance of continually seeking to improve ourselves based on true growth and increased breadth and depth of our experiences.
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How different things would be if the focus of competition would always be directed internally? This question posed by the author would give rise to commerce that favors the honest; industry would more rapidly advance I would think because the standards set are only against yourself and your abilities and capabilities, as individuals and as corporations. The drive to excel would be one that relishes internal development, to feel that the greatest reward is the reward of growth, that process of true excellence without ego or vain displays of self-flattery.
To “Let the individual feel thus as to his own progress and possibilities, and he can almost create his life as he will” is a bold statement that captures the sense of freedom as well as the true powers of our will that is ours if we are only to assume full responsibility for our development. As the saying goes, we may be able to fool others, but we are only fooling ourselves in turn. Fool’s gold compared to alchemical gold – big difference.
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Self-competition is something that not only develops the attributes you are attempting to increase, but also develops secondary characteristics that are so important to a well rounded life. For instance, while working with something else, you can learn the lesson of how much more you can ask of yourself on the next go around. Ask too much, and you burn out, but ask to little, and you will never make any real progress. Also, it develops the motivation to forgo making excuses. As you gain some momentum in a certain achievement, you are less likely to make an excuse as to why you can no longer make progress, as you have already come so far! This is an excellent addition to the self-reliance posts.
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