Let us get our ducks in a row, as we are in an animal kingdom, and get our meanings straight—what is a top dog? Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as follows-top dog (noun): a person, group, or thing in a position of authority, especially through victory in a hard-fought competition1.
It is an idiom that crops up in conversations about achievement, targets, and results. We are used to, or perhaps are taught, to use it positively—it is top, so it must be good. However, I have my doubts. While competition is not necessarily detrimental to business, wanting to become a top dog at any cost might be. How? I’ll get to that in the second part of the article. Right now, I want to highlight why we so often think we need to become top dogs in the first place.
Conditioning
Getting to the top has a lot of perceived value. It is seen as being the first, the biggest, and the most accomplished. It is often understood as a state where success lives, where the good life happens. No wonder parents and societies are pushing their children to get to that point where everyone else sees you as happy. They insist on it, so you follow.
This story is from the November 2020 edition of Indian Management.
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This story is from the November 2020 edition of Indian Management.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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