If you decide to compete, you’ve already won

Codfish are a delectable treat in America’s northeast. But when attempts were made to ship them fresh to distant markets, the cod did not taste the same as they did closer to home. To deal with this, shippers decided to freeze the cod and then ship them. But the fish still didn’t taste right.

Then the fish merchants tried shipping the codfish in tanks of seawater, but that proved even worse. Not only was it more expensive, but the codfish still lost their flavor and, in addition, their flesh became soft and mushy.

Finally, some creative soul solved the problem in a most innovative way, according to Charles R. Swindoll in his book "Come Before Winter and Share My Hope." The codfish were placed in a tank along with their natural enemy – the catfish. From the time the codfish left the East Coast until they arrived at their westernmost destination, those catfish had chased the cod all over the tank. And, as you may have guessed, the cod arrived at the market tasting as if they had just been pulled from the ocean. If anything, the flavor was better than ever.

What competitive environments and daily challenges can do for codfish work for humans as well. Competition and challenges make us better.

By HARVEY MACKAY

Full Story: http://www.cdapress.com/news/business/article_b39a6994-2735-5986-9c41-ff2cda0d6fe2.html