Is it really a good idea to crush the competition? I'm not a fan of the run-away score. Even if it is my team that is leading...well usually. It is a little like watching the Varsity play the Elementary school team. At first the scoring is exciting, then it feels unfair, then a bit like bullying. I am especially uneasy when I know folks cheering for the other side.
Competition is healthy. In sports as in business if we don't have some true competition the victory if shallow. Competition helps us work harder to get up to speed or so they don't catch us. Competition makes us think about how we can improve our product, our process or our customer service.
Competition can even cooperate with each other in a way that makes both sides the winner. I went in to rent a room in a hotel one weekend. The hotel did not have any vacancies. But they asked us to wait a minute. The front desk clerk called the competitive hotel across the street and made a reservation for us. Now that was unexpected, very nice and as I left the full hotel I had only nice thoughts about them and their customer service. I then went across the street to find my room all ready for me. I had good thoughts about them as well.
But when I try to totally crush the competition at every turn a bitterness starts to grow inside me. I don't want to help them in any way. I have no ability to cooperate with them. We remain distant and in a stalemate. There are many instances where competing businesses can cooperate for the greater good. Sometimes a job may be too big for you and you need the competition to help in order to satisfy the client. Competitors need to work together for a much needed community project. Competitors need to work together to help lawmakers when they are writing legislation for the industry.
The competition in this political season has been brutal. Now when all the legislators get back to work will they be able to draft legislation together or will every thing be us against them?
I believe as Zig Ziglar said, "You can get everything you want if you help enough people get what they want." That includes our competitors.
Moving forward,
Jeff Roach
www.brooketraining.com
www.transportationtraining.com
Showing posts with label competition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label competition. Show all posts
Top 3 Ways to Beat the Competition
Shari Waters shares some simple but brilliant ways to stay ahead
in this tight economy environment.
She writes to retailers but the ideas are effective for the
transportation industry as well. I edited this a bit
Top 3 Ways to Beat the Competition
By Shari Waters, About.com
It's inevitable that your business will have some form of
competition. And while you can't control what your competitors do, you can
minimize their impact on your business. Here are three ways to rise above the
competition.
1. Reduce Expenses, Not Advertising
Take a look at your Profit and Loss statement, or itemize all of
your expenses, and ask yourself how each line can be eliminated or reduced.
Find out where you can cut back. A little here and a little there will soon add
up. However, the one expense you do NOT want to reduce is advertising. In fact,
many increase their marketing efforts during slower sales periods because there
is more competition for fewer dollars.
2. Get Creative
Get creative and use unconventional marketing methods to
distinguish your business from the competition. A unique marketing campaign
attracts more attention and lands more sales. Also, look for some new untapped
market you and your competitors overlooked. You may uncover a niche market you
can dominate with little or no competition.
3. Provide Outstanding Customer Service
By going the extra mile to provide good service, outlast the
competition. Make dealing with your company a memorable experience. People like
to do business with those they feel comfortable and where they feel the owner
truly cares about their wants and needs.
In our training course for freight brokers we teach how to build a freight brokerage and we give our students lots of inspiration. A key element to success is staying encouraged. I talk with professionals everyday looking for encouragement. We are only a phone call away for any graduate who needs encouragement along the way.
Moving forward,
Jeff Roach
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