MediaSlap blog

by Dwight Cook

Do you hate your competition?

I have run into many people who want to destroy their competition! Many times business leaders are trained to not trust anyone who competes with them. Their business view is a win/lose game and if they associate with their competitors they will lose.

I don’t think that this is they way to deal with the other team. I see that no two companies are exactly the same. Even if there are similarities between companies, there are even more differences. There are differences with people, services and products. Look at the differences as strength. It’s the differences make you unique. 

Get past the fear of your competition and you can actually build mutually beneficial relationships and grow your business. When you forge relationships with other companies you make a bigger pie and can actually achieve greater levels of success. Some commonalities will always exist. If you are not operating from a spirit of fear you can reach a new piece of the market and get customers you would not connect with otherwise.

I’m currently chairman of the organization Only In Houston. It’s a diverse group of media and advertising creative professionals in Houston. The creative’s in Houston are spread out all over the city and OiH builds community. OiH has an online directory with a lot of web traffic. With that online directory, its blogs, social media, calendar and networking events this creative community connects. Together OiH members communicate the rich resources available in the Houston Creative community. The key word here is “together.”

Yes, the fear of competition does exist but it will diminish quickly as you  engage yourself in new beneficial business relationships. Let me hear from you – what’s your experience?

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