I exert my best in all that I do. When I was 8 my Dad took an entire afternoon one Saturday with me and we washed, vaccuumed, waxed and detailed his Volvo 240 DL Turbo (light metallic blue, navy interior, allow mags, nice car for 1982). It took us alllll day. When I was done waxing and he inspected it, he found some spots I needed to touch up, then he opened the gas cap. He said
"Ax, you didn't wax inside the gas cap. Do you want the car to rust there?" I said
"Nope, but I didn't think about it." He said
"That's OK, just do it now, and remember it next time." When we were done he said
"If you are going to do anything, do it right." Then we went out and got huge cheeseburgers.
That's my attitude. I give my best effort. I learn from my mistakes and experience gained along the way. I constantly try to improve that which I do. I give my customer's their money's worth, and they come back for more.
Regarding competition, I am very competitive with myself. I am competitive with other people where need be, but these situations are rare. It is better for me to establish rapport with my peers and entice them to give their best work to me in the process of what we are doing, knowing that if they realize I am in the whole deal for the sake of the project, and not just to make me look good, or them look bad, then everything works out much better. Both parties can shine or burn depending on their individual efforts.
If it comes to conflict, I take the high road, but if excessively provoked I will engage and I will not show mercy. I'm one to end things very quickly and make it very clear that type of thing is not acceptable. I'm a lover, not a fighter, but I will kick me some ass if I need to, and I won't feel bad about. I hate seeing others picked on. That irritates me more than anyone trying to mess with me.