[squat] + [bench press] + [deadlift] -- meets
Everyone who trains seriously with barbells will eventually want to test his abilities. A powerlifting or Olympic weightlifting meet is a logical place to do so.
Signing up for a meet has many benefits. The act of paying money and having a date set in stone adds focus to the training schedule. Knowing that he must soon perform in front of a crowd makes the trainee much less likely to skip workouts or bail out of hard sets. Finally, the competitive rhythm — pushing the limits for a few months, tapering, hitting a peak, and revving back up —is an excellent way to avoid burnout. Competing every 6 to 12 months is a good schedule.
International level competitors excluded, winning is not usually the goal in a barbell meet. There is always somebody stronger, and the person who walks away with the trophy is usually determined by who enters the meet to begin with. The battle is with the self — do I have what it takes to beat my previous best?
“Online meets” are not meets. “Test days” in the gym are not meets. 1RM calculators are no substitute for actually getting under the bar. I have never known anyone regret competing.