Comments on: Obsession with the competition is a luxury of the over-funded http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/29/obsession-with-the-competition-is-a-luxury-of-the-over-funded/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:48:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Anonymous http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/29/obsession-with-the-competition-is-a-luxury-of-the-over-funded/comment-page-1/#comment-2444 Anonymous Tue, 05 Jun 2007 14:17:06 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=236#comment-2444 <strong>Obsession with the competition is a luxury of the over-funded by Pamela Slim</strong> Competition Any business-minded consultant or entrepreneur will tell you that you need to know about your competition.  It is an important part of understanding your market and differentiating yourself from the rest of the herd. But some business owne... Obsession with the competition is a luxury of the over-funded by Pamela Slim

Competition Any business-minded consultant or entrepreneur will tell you that you need to know about your competition.  It is an important part of understanding your market and differentiating yourself from the rest of the herd.
But some business owne…

]]> By: Carla Golden http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/29/obsession-with-the-competition-is-a-luxury-of-the-over-funded/comment-page-1/#comment-2436 Carla Golden Thu, 31 May 2007 13:56:53 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=236#comment-2436 There's always going to be competition. We just need to focus on being the best that we can be at focusing on our strengths and uniqueness. Also, I think "cooporation" is the key today. The more we help each other, the more everyone benefits. I have helped competitiors in business and it blew their mind. It also led to an alliance. There’s always going to be competition. We just need to focus on being the best that we can be at focusing on our strengths and uniqueness.

Also, I think “cooporation” is the key today. The more we help each other, the more everyone benefits. I have helped competitiors in business and it blew their mind. It also led to an alliance.

]]> By: Roger Anderson http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/29/obsession-with-the-competition-is-a-luxury-of-the-over-funded/comment-page-1/#comment-2437 Roger Anderson Thu, 31 May 2007 07:53:40 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=236#comment-2437 Pam, AS always you bring up a subject that we often think has been left behind when we departed the cubicle nation. Yet, like children who become their parents we sometimes repeat the same behaviors once our organization starts to increase in size. Thanks for the reminder! BTW - Friday's call was another good one. Almost makes you want to buy a Honda. Pam,
AS always you bring up a subject that we often think has been left behind when we departed the cubicle nation. Yet, like children who become their parents we sometimes repeat the same behaviors once our organization starts to increase in size.

Thanks for the reminder!
BTW – Friday’s call was another good one. Almost makes you want to buy a Honda.

]]> By: Suzanne McLoone http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/29/obsession-with-the-competition-is-a-luxury-of-the-over-funded/comment-page-1/#comment-2438 Suzanne McLoone Thu, 31 May 2007 06:29:38 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=236#comment-2438 All of this talk about competition brings memories of "Miracle on 34th Street" and the controversary that Santa brought to Macy's because he was referring parents to the competitors. As off the wall as it seems, I think that is why I actually embrace my competition. If I run across someone who I think would be better off with someone else, I refer them to a reliable competitor. Not only does it increase my credibility within my industry, it also boosts my integrity with the potential client. Not to mention, it's an absolutely wonderful way to off load some of those customers I don't necessarily WANT as clients. Having the liberty to pick and choose who I do business with is key in my personal business plan. Having that handful of competitor referrals gives me peace of mind that I can continue to do so. So bring on the competition! All of this talk about competition brings memories of “Miracle on 34th Street” and the controversary that Santa brought to Macy’s because he was referring parents to the competitors. As off the wall as it seems, I think that is why I actually embrace my competition. If I run across someone who I think would be better off with someone else, I refer them to a reliable competitor. Not only does it increase my credibility within my industry, it also boosts my integrity with the potential client.

Not to mention, it’s an absolutely wonderful way to off load some of those customers I don’t necessarily WANT as clients. Having the liberty to pick and choose who I do business with is key in my personal business plan. Having that handful of competitor referrals gives me peace of mind that I can continue to do so.

So bring on the competition!

]]> By: Mike http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/29/obsession-with-the-competition-is-a-luxury-of-the-over-funded/comment-page-1/#comment-2439 Mike Wed, 30 May 2007 15:01:20 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=236#comment-2439 Pam, Great article, but it will be a long time before anyone comes up with a blog post title as pithy as this one! Mike --- You are too kind Mike ... I have to admit that I am smitten with the title as well. Sometimes they just write themselves. :) -Pam Pam,

Great article, but it will be a long time before anyone comes up with a blog post title as pithy as this one!

Mike

—

You are too kind Mike … I have to admit that I am smitten with the title as well. Sometimes they just write themselves. :)

-Pam

]]> By: Jeffrey Eisenberg http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/29/obsession-with-the-competition-is-a-luxury-of-the-over-funded/comment-page-1/#comment-2440 Jeffrey Eisenberg Wed, 30 May 2007 13:57:18 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=236#comment-2440 Thank you for a well thought out post. I shared it with a client and then some of my team. Thank you for a well thought out post. I shared it with a client and then some of my team.

]]> By: Mark http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/29/obsession-with-the-competition-is-a-luxury-of-the-over-funded/comment-page-1/#comment-2441 Mark Wed, 30 May 2007 13:51:40 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=236#comment-2441 I think this compliments your first point -- where I work the intense focus on competitors really stifles any new innovation. The first question when faced with a new idea is "What's X and Y [our main competitors] doing about this?" If the answer is "they're already doing this" then we either follow along or lately say "well, I guess it's too late" But if we've got a genuine new idea, the answer tends to be "if X and Y aren't doing it, are you sure we should?" My colleague is leading a project that is just about to launch a major update to her service. Two weeks ago we learned that competitor X just launched a competing service. The whole team sagged because they're no longer unique, rather than feel justified that they were on to something good. I agree with you, Pamela -- focus on your target market. Know them better than anyone else and be the best at delivering to your target. I think this compliments your first point — where I work the intense focus on competitors really stifles any new innovation.

The first question when faced with a new idea is “What’s X and Y [our main competitors] doing about this?”

If the answer is “they’re already doing this” then we either follow along or lately say “well, I guess it’s too late”

But if we’ve got a genuine new idea, the answer tends to be “if X and Y aren’t doing it, are you sure we should?”

My colleague is leading a project that is just about to launch a major update to her service. Two weeks ago we learned that competitor X just launched a competing service. The whole team sagged because they’re no longer unique, rather than feel justified that they were on to something good.

I agree with you, Pamela — focus on your target market. Know them better than anyone else and be the best at delivering to your target.

]]> By: Adam StJohn Lawrence http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/29/obsession-with-the-competition-is-a-luxury-of-the-over-funded/comment-page-1/#comment-2442 Adam StJohn Lawrence Wed, 30 May 2007 13:09:00 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=236#comment-2442 Great post, thanks. My own thoughts on the subject are simple: if I am worried about competition, I am simply not unique enough. I need to be more different, and concentrate on giving my customers an experience that no-one else can give them (or that no-one else dares give them)! Cheers Adam experiencedesign.de Great post, thanks.

My own thoughts on the subject are simple: if I am worried about competition, I am simply not unique enough.

I need to be more different, and concentrate on giving my customers an experience that no-one else can give them (or that no-one else dares give them)!

Cheers

Adam
experiencedesign.de

]]> By: Louis Choquel http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/05/29/obsession-with-the-competition-is-a-luxury-of-the-over-funded/comment-page-1/#comment-2443 Louis Choquel Wed, 30 May 2007 09:56:38 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=236#comment-2443 Last Friday I launched a one-of-a-kind web-site. And Monday evening I already had a competitor. It did feel special and mostly good. After reading your great post, I feel better yet. I passed it on to the team. Competition is making them so excited, I love seeing that! Last Friday I launched a one-of-a-kind web-site. And Monday evening I already had a competitor.
It did feel special and mostly good.

After reading your great post, I feel better yet.
I passed it on to the team. Competition is making them so excited, I love seeing that!

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