I’ve got two girls, 12 and 14, and so there’s a saying that’s tossed around my home quite a bit these days:
The road to your own personal hell is paved with comparison.
Perfect for my girls. Even more perfect and relevant for business owners.
I can’t tell you the number of times I remind VERY SMART and VERY SAVVY business owners to ignore what they consider their competitors. WHY?
Because what we JUSTIFY as competitive research is often an impetus for feeling “out of our league” and envious of others. While we KNOW that we’re “comparing our behind the scenes with their highlight reel,” this reasoning seems not to resonate with our emotions. This comparison is often the beginning of QUICK COPY CAT changes to our own site and offerings, which is — as a warning — the very thing that will PROHIBIT SALES in your business. Comparison is also the initiator of countless personal pity parties and RANTS against those we think “shouldn’t” be successful. And, it can also lead to damaging beliefs of entitlement (I DESERVE success more than “her.”) and a debilitating dialogue about what “they” have that you don’t!
Listen: NONE of this does you — or your business — any good. But it takes GUTS to opt out of this HELLACIOUS habit. A lot of guts! It’s takes a ballsy business owner to take Ray Kroc’s approach, “I can CREATE faster than they can COPY!” But, here’s the truth: You can be the copy cat or you can be the cat copied.
Quick story: I went back through my emails for the month of March and counted. I received 24 emails from people “warning” me that phrases that are UNIQUELY MINE have been paraded in front of the masses by someone else. 24 emails. Much “ado” about 2 phrases that — if I do say so myself — were and ARE pretty dag-on powerful. lol… And I’m so grateful that people thought enough of me to let me know what was going on.
But, do I care about being “ripped off?” NOPE. Because my success is not based on a phrase. And I know I have a choice to make. I can either copy or BE copied. I much prefer the latter. But only every single time. I take it as flattery. Smile and go on. Because I can create faster than they can copy. This is — by far — my preference.
CREATION.
But what about our competitors???? Shouldn’t we study them? Shouldn’t we KNOW what they’re up to? Shouldn’t we “peak” in on them?
Yes, you should. But with a firmly guarded mindset… one that QUICKLY glances and doesn’t COMPARE. One that looks for trends and doesn’t COMPARE. One that looks for a way to STAND OUT — instead of one that wants to “be like” “them.”
Because it’s NOT you against your competitors! It’s just NOT!
It’s not an EITHER / OR scenario where their apparent or real success robs you of your own. NO WAY! Admittedly, I’m not a huge “collaborator.” =) Frankly, I work best alone! I know this about myself. But, here’re 2 things you should know about your “competition:”
1) They have warts (and hurdles and insecurities and challenges) just like you.
2) They know their OWN “behind the scenes” and have days when they’d rather throw their own pity party…. but most of the time — to their credit — they just keep working! =)
Bottom line: Comparison is a cancer in your business — devouring and devaluing what is uniquely you. Let me say that another way. Comparison is a cancer in your business — devouring and devaluing the VERY THING that gives you your competitive edge!
You can EITHER compare and copy… or you can CREATE and be copied. The fastest way to cash — if you care about that sort of thing — is the latter. Pinky promise.
So, my challenge is this: Will you commit to ONE MONTH of ignoring your competitors? ONE MONTH without comparing your self or your business to anyone or anything? ONE MONTH to see what YOU can create? If so, message me. (michelle@bmichellepippin.com) I want to prove the commercial advantage of CREATION over COMPARISON.
