Publisher: Competition makes the good great

Louisiana should not only be celebrating the success of the undefeated, No. 1 LSU Tigers, says Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister, but taking a lesson from the team on the importance of competition. “To compete in the SEC, you must be great. Just good won’t win,” he says. “The same dynamic applies to the CEO of a struggling business in an industry with strong competitors. It’s the basis for our free enterprise system. Cut waste, innovate, compete and get better—or go away. The strong survive.” Two things that will never foster healthy competition, McCollister says, are monopolies and teacher tenure. “There are no guarantees in business—or SEC football. And there shouldn’t be in government and public education, either,” he says. “If folks must compete every day—like in business or the SEC—you cannot let your guard down or slack off, because someone is ready to take your job, put you out of business, or knock you out of the top 25. What do you think LSU football would be like today if Curley Hallman had earned tenure for managing to survive three seasons?” Read McCollister’s full column here; and send your comments to editors@businessreport.com.