The only thing harder than gaining a competitive advantage is keeping one.
The reality is, maintaining that edge for decades is nearly impossible. Many don’t truly understand how difficult it is to stay competitive at a high level for that long.
We look at organizations like the University of Alabama, the New England Patriots, or even companies in the S&P 500. They’ve all experienced dominance, but not forever. Champions don’t win every year, and top organizations eventually get knocked out.
Why does this happen?
A few reasons.
First, success leads to confidence — sometimes too much confidence. After a few big wins, people start to believe they’ll always be right, that success will continue indefinitely.
But that’s not how the world works. This false confidence creates blind spots.
You stop being as paranoid as you were when you were hungry for success. You stop looking for threats because you think you’ve got it all figured out. That’s when those threats strike hardest.
Another reason is tied to motivation.
Most people work hard to reach a place where they no longer have to work as hard. The problem is, once you reach that place, your organization becomes less competitive.
If you started out working 70-80 hours a week to build something great but then cut back to 20-30 hours because you’ve “made it,” compromises inevitably happen. You can’t be as involved, and the hunger that got you to the top starts to fade.
The sad truth is, if you want to maintain your competitive advantage, it never ends.
The moment you let your foot off the gas, someone hungrier, more paranoid, and more determined will come for your spot.
So if you want to stay at the top, ask yourself — are you willing to keep grinding when you could coast?
Because if you’re not, someone else will be more than happy to take your place.
