Fueled by Competition

Survival in business is directly related to how fast and how well a company or individual responds to change be it internal such as personnel or branding, or external such as the economy, a competitor, a new technology, or, as in the case of the last few years, all of the above!

While growth isn’t a word you might have used lately in your business, it is definitely happening within the industry, albeit in a different form. It seems that even in this sluggish economy there is more competition than ever from new companies from changing marketplaces such as advertising. And, of course there is competition from established firms that are widening their markets in order to survive.

With growth, even positive growth, comes tension. We can’t change this. What we can change is how we perceive and deal with it. What we lose in personal space, we gain in a newborn energy that shakes off complacency. Like the fire that comes through a forest igniting seeds that lay dormant, so too can the fire of competition re-fuel us with passion and new ways of thinking.

Take a look at everything you are doing now. Leave no stone unturned. How can you do everything just a little better? What are the things you could be doing A LOT better? Don’t put off tomorrow what could be updated today.

Revisit your branding and message. What’s worked up to now might not still work in a society that has quickly become wired. Review your look and message with new eyes. Tweak your brand to be more friendly, inpiring or inclusive.

Even the smallest change can bring the necessary shift of energy to you and your business. This could be just starting an hour earlier in order to explore social media, organizing a company retreat in order to reflect and renew, or partnering with another company like yours in a different marketplace to create an idea exchange.

Competition is nothing to fear. There are great opportunities within it. So muscle in. Make room for others. Ask them to make room for you. Above all, don’t wait passively for change — be the change. Bring excitement and energy with you. At the banquet of life, there’s always room for one more!