--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a multisport athlete, I was always…" description: "\"As a multisport athlete, I was always fascinated with competition and how to win. At HBS and later at the Harvard Department of Economics, I was drawn ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/michael-porter-12352_always_as-a-multisport-athlete-i-was-always-fas_1596028.jpg" --- # As a multisport athlete, I was always fascinated with… ![“As a multisport athlete, I was always fascinated with competition and how to win. At HBS and later at the Harvard Department of Economics, I was drawn to the field of competition and strategy because it tackles perhaps the most basic question in both business management and industrial economics…” quote by Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/michael-porter-12352_always_as-a-multisport-athlete-i-was-always-fas_1596028.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/michael-porter-12352_always_as-a-multisport-athlete-i-was-always-fas_1596028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/michael-porter-12352_always_as-a-multisport-athlete-i-was-always-fas_1596028.jpg) > “As a multisport athlete, I was always fascinated with competition and how to win. At HBS and later at the Harvard Department of Economics, I was drawn to the field of competition and strategy because it tackles perhaps the most basic question in both business management and industrial economics: What determines corporate performance?” [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes a lifelong fascination with competition, linking it to academic study of how strategic choices and market forces determine a firm’s success. **In simple terms:** Competition drives business performance; studying it reveals success factors. Key Takeaway Study competition to improve corporate outcomes. Themes business economics strategy competition Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type educational strategic When to use this quote - corporate strategy - MBA curriculum - industry analysis - leadership development Key Concepts Competitive advantage market dynamics performance metrics Questions to Reflect On - What role does collaboration play in corporate success? - How can ethical concerns be balanced with competitive drive? A Different Perspective The focus on competition may neglect collaboration and ethical considerations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Basic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Both](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-management/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Competition Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition-strategy-5596997/) [Corporate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate/) [Corporate Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate-performance-4215338/) [Department](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/department/) [Determines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determines/) [Drawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawn/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Fascinated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascinated/) [Fascinated Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascinated-competition-6058955/) [Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/field/) [Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Industrial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industrial/) [Later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/later/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Perhaps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perhaps/) [Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win/) ## Related quotes > [You know the best thing about competition? There's this whole strategy game, and when it all works out its like solving that hard math…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-white/you-know-the-best-thing-about-competition-there-s-this-whole-strategy/) [Shaun White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-white/) > [If the goal is to build companies that maximize long-term equity value, then optimizing corporate performance in a way that Wall Street appreciates is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gurley/if-the-goal-is-to-build-companies-that-maximize-long-term-equity/) [Bill Gurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gurley/) > [“Corporate performance management systems and processes are gradually moving away from a static, unidirectional, and time-bound avatar to a more dynamic, continuous, and interactive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/corporate-performance-management-systems-and-processes-are-gradually/) [Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/) > [I had to write 1500 words on advertising and marketing at the weekend for my business management course, and you can't think about rugby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-had-to-write-1500-words-on-advertising-and-marketing-at-the-weekend/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [Focus on a few key objectives ... I only have three things to do. I have to choose the right people, allocate the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/focus-on-a-few-key-objectives-i-only-have-three-things-to-do-i-have/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Smart people instinctively understand the dangers of entrusting our future to self-serving leaders who use our institutions, whether in the corporate or social sectors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/smart-people-instinctively-understand-the-dangers-of-entrusting-our/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Family business management is a discipline that has evolved from an art into a science. The market for this line of education has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjaya-baru/family-business-management-is-a-discipline-that-has-evolved-from-an/) [Sanjaya Baru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjaya-baru/) > [“Hard business assets keep the organization lights on, and soft assets of the organization enable the business to unlock its potential.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/hard-business-assets-keep-the-organization-lights-on-and-soft-assets/) [Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/) > [Real management is developing people through work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agha-hasan-abedi/real-management-is-developing-people-through-work/) [Agha Hasan Abedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agha-hasan-abedi/) > [“The quality of the relationships you have built with your clients will determine the number of years you will remain in business.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/the-quality-of-the-relationships-you-have-built-with-your-clients/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [“...while extraordinary products and unique services still afford a competitive advantage, the one advantage that stands the test of time...is people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salsbury/while-extraordinary-products-and-unique-services-still-afford-a/) [Mark Salsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salsbury/) > [“The business management is, in essence, the decision management and performance management continuum.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/the-business-management-is-in-essence-the-decision-management-and/) [Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/) > [My curse on plays That have to be set up in fifty ways, On the day's war with every knave and dolt, Theater business,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/my-curse-on-plays-that-have-to-be-set-up-in-fifty-ways-on-the-day-s/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [Persons who reach the higher rungs in business management, selling, engineering, religious work, writing, acting, and in every other pursuit get there by following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-schwartz/persons-who-reach-the-higher-rungs-in-business-management-selling/) [David J. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-schwartz/) > [Does Brandon McCaw have a Business Management Degree? Yes Whatever Questions, Statements, Topics, Stories to Submit, it will show up on Google, Wikipedia, Images,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mccaw/does-brandon-mccaw-have-a-business-management-degree-yes-whatever/) [Brandon McCaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mccaw/) ## More by Michael Porter > [So companies have to be very schizophrenic. On one hand, they have to maintain continuity of strategy. But they also have to be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/so-companies-have-to-be-very-schizophrenic-on-one-hand-they-have-to/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Strategy is about setting yourself apart from the competition. It's not a matter of being better at what you do - it's a matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/strategy-is-about-setting-yourself-apart-from-the-competition-it-s/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Good leaders need a positive agenda, not just an agenda of dealing with crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/good-leaders-need-a-positive-agenda-not-just-an-agenda-of-dealing/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Health care historically has been a very siloed field that's organized around medical specialties - urology, cardiac surgery, and so forth - and around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/health-care-historically-has-been-a-very-siloed-field-that-s/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Being an American doesn't mean that you're guaranteed a high wage. You have to be productive, and we have to create a very low-cost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/being-an-american-doesn-t-mean-that-you-re-guaranteed-a-high-wage-you/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [The U.S. is facing a structural competitiveness problem that is leading to the weakest economy we have seen in generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/the-u-s-is-facing-a-structural-competitiveness-problem-that-is/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/innovation-is-the-central-issue-in-economic-prosperity/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [I'm really puzzled by why people in societies find it difficult to work collaboratively together with other people in societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/i-m-really-puzzled-by-why-people-in-societies-find-it-difficult-to/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [In America, the problems of poverty and low income, particularly for minorities, are disproportionately focused in the inner cities. Shining a spotlight on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/in-america-the-problems-of-poverty-and-low-income-particularly-for/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [You can't have a healthy society unless you have healthy companies that are making a profit, that are employing people and that are growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/you-can-t-have-a-healthy-society-unless-you-have-healthy-companies/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [The ability to change constantly and effectively is made easier by high-level continuity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/the-ability-to-change-constantly-and-effectively-is-made-easier-by/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [I think that, too many times, business has been seen as acting in its narrow self-interest rather than, essentially, contributing more broadly to society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/i-think-that-too-many-times-business-has-been-seen-as-acting-in-its/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [If your goal is anything but profitability - if it's to be big, or to grow fast, or to become a technology leader -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/if-your-goal-is-anything-but-profitability-if-it-s-to-be-big-or-to/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Unfortunately, I'm an engineer. I'm always thinking about, what's the task and how do I get it done? And some of my tasks are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/unfortunately-i-m-an-engineer-i-m-always-thinking-about-what-s-the/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs; it's about deliberately choosing to be different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/strategy-is-about-making-choices-trade-offs-it-s-about-deliberately/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) [Explore all 55 Michael Porter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a multisport athlete, I was always fascinated with competition and how to win. 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