In the process of discovering goals for The Choice100, we established four key goals listed over on the “The 100” page. They were:

• Provide a unique opportunity for artists who don’t want to be diluted by an overabundance of competing artists. The Choice100 is about working together!
• Grow a network of built-in artists who have incentives to work together and feel a sense of ownership in ChoiceShirts/The Choice100.
• Provide monetary incentives and promotional opportunities to artists actively participating in the Choice100 network.
• Utilize social media tools like this blog, our Twitter account, Facebook to actively seek out and build a network of 100 graphic artists

In our brainstorming session last week and the further discovery and conversations that have taken place in the week following, that first key goal has become increasingly common, and I’m pleased that it’s beginning to take hold as the mantra for The Choice100. More concisely, we’re exploring ways to get designers to compete WITH each other, instead of against each other.

The benefits of this are many-fold. First, there’s a very basic comradery that comes from competing WITH. That comradery helps when any single member of the community may feel as if they are falling, and ultimately, the group steps up to help catch them. The effects of being caught instead of simply being left to fall in a cut-throat competition are very positive for that community member, and encourages them to come back even stronger.

Second, within the construct of community, competition WITH means that there is always healthy competition. Challenging one another to be better at their own craft helps both (or all) participants. Being open in this competition helps the community at large by getting them fired up and excited about the creative process.

Finally, competition WITH encourages real world, face to face interaction. Rather than resenting your competition AGAINST, the people you’re competing WITH become people you may enjoy spending face time with, outside of the competition. There’s something to be said for congratulating a peer with a strong handshake, a bear hug, a high five, or a frosty cold one!

I imagine I’ll be back to this topic because this whole style of competition is very interesting to me, personally, since I’m not a particularly competitive person to begin with, at least not in the traditional sense.

Next we’ll talk more about the network we hope to build, particularly the topic of diversity. Also, stay tuned for some of the really exciting examples of how we plan to get The Choice100 competing WITH instead of AGAINST!

In the mean time, a question for you, readers!

What’s one of your special interests (a sport? a hobby? an activity? an event? an industry?), and are t-shirts often present in it?

Let us know in the comments!