Who doesn’t like competition? Besides non-competitive people, of course, but if you’re reading this, that probably doesn’t apply to you. As a child, did you get way too invested in those family games of Monopoly? Did you try out for every single club or team imaginable in high school? If you hang out with your friends as an adult and have a reputation for shouting things like, “Race you to the car! Loser has to buy lunch!” then you definitely have a competitive spirit. There’s nothing wrong with it, as long as you try to channel it in a healthy fashion.
Fantasy sports
Fantasy football can be a lot of fun in the autumn. There’s nothing like grilling some food with your friends and watching as the scores (and stats) come in. A little trash-talking can be good as well, as long as you don’t go too far with it (there’s no need to insult anyone’s parentage). But what do you do when bragging rights aren’t quite enough? How can you raise the stakes without going too crazy? Try giving out some hardware to the last person standing at the end of the playoffs. A football trophy is nice, but a fantasy football ring might be even nicer. It won’t have as much bling as the one the actual Super Bowl champions receive, but that’s OK, because fantasy football doesn’t also include a really high risk of career-ending injury. You put in the time and research to draft your ideal team, and if it pays off, you’ll want a lasting memento of your success. It’s also more fun to wave a trophy or championship belt around the room than it is to run around the room saying, “I’m the best!” If you are the best, your trophy will provide proof that you’re allowed to gloat all the way up until the start of next season.
Finding a financial edge
A lot of people are competitive about finances, even if most of us aren’t as open about it. Very few people treat making more money than a coworker the same way they would treat a playoff game between two bitter rivals. It’s considered uncouth to walk into the office and say, “Karen! I make more money than you!” You do, however, have the legal right to compare salaries, regardless of what your manager tries to tell you. All that being said, finding a financial advantage is about more than just salary. It’s also about things like investments and IRAs. If you’ve never looked into the possibility of a gold IRA, then today might be a great day to start doing some research. They aren’t for everyone, but people who fear that the US dollar is in an irreversible decline tend to prefer gold and silver over paper money. Gold may offer more purchasing power as well. We’re living in uncertain times, so it’s natural for people to explore unconventional investment methods. People are trying to prepare for the worst-case scenario even as they continue hoping for the best.
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