The simple answer is, a skill or talent developed over time, refined and honed in the cauldron of competition to status in a hierarchy where action, performance mean everything and the unadulterated results speak for themselves (and for those who own them).
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Competition for top growth status in stagnant developed markets could result in a strategic mistake.
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Different as these countries are in many ways, in all three, few bosses welcome the competition and deregulation that threatens the status quo.
It is hard to put a finger on where the toughest competition to Hong Kong's status as a financial hub will come from.
"As universities are facing severe economic conditions and ferocious global competition it is clear that the status quo is not viable, " she said.
Chasing a record sixth triumph in the continent's top club competition, Ahly would confirm their status as Africa's most successful side with a victory over the Tunisians, who are looking for their first title.
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SEC's findings suggest the three top agencies should forfeit their approved status, to encourage fresh competition.
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Now to be sure, there is no reason to suppose that governments, of all things, would, in the natural competition of things, rise to the status of good money-producers in any economy.
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Four young Europeans, selected through an open EU competition, were in the delegation with equal status alongside the politicians.
Since then one Premier club, Wellington People FC, have vowed not take part in any competition organised by the FA under its current status.
Liebowitz emphasizes that because these ratings agencies were protected from free market competition, and so granted a government favored status by regulation, they naturally did not want to create controversial political waves by rocking the subprime mortgage boat, which would endanger their regulation protected profits.
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Government can also grant monopoly status, barriers to entry and protection from foreign competition.
In the days leading up to the decision, Rice acknowledged his roster status put him at a significant disadvantage in the competition, even though he outpitched Carson in Grapefruit League play.
But Tercica has orphan status for its drug, which should protect Increlex from competition for seven years.
"It's a competition between tribes, " he explains of the hump-backed status symbols.
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The German system is geared towards preventing the influence of a rich benefactor from skewing the competition, but some argue that it will only serve to perpetuate the status quo.
Quite often, leadership will take small steps to maintain status quo rather than do something bold and try and leapfrog the competition.
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But then what the OECD countries are doing is simply trying to maintain status quos which really have no validity in the face of demanding efficiency through competition.
Gough achieved celebrity status off the field when he won the BBC's Celebrity Come Dancing competition in 2005, but insisted his decision to quit was "nothing to do with the entertainment business".
Last year, we launched a national competition to improve our schools based on a simple idea: Instead of funding the status quo, we will only invest in reform -- reform that raises student achievement, that inspires students to excel in math and science, and turns around failing schools that steal the future of too many young Americans.
Apple, perhaps the guiltiest of all the gardeners, is not satisfied with having disrupted all of its competition and taken over various markets, particularly digital music distribution, where arguably it holds dominant firm status.
He has skipped the first round of the competition for the past three years but has always returned to help the Swiss retain their top-flight status.
Montauban were playing their first match in the competition and fielded a much weakened side after making clear that their priorities lie in maintaining their top-flight status in their domestic league.
Throughout the investigation, the question asked by both consumers groups and those who care about preserving competition and limited regulation of the tech industry was what remedy could possibly benefit innovation and consumers more than the status quo.
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Todt has stated publicly there will be "healthy competition" between Raikkonen and fellow Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, although it is likely the Finn will assume number one status in due course.
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