Compete With Yourself

Throughout the ISM training courses, programs and blog series I provide through ISM, Connecting Dots and with the Finjan Show, I’ve continued to stress the importance of competing with yourself.

Never compete with others.

What I mean is that we should all aim to do better when gauged against what we have done in the past.

Occasionally, the marketplace might force you to compete with other players within your space. I prefer to choose to cooperate because I believe there is plenty of work for all of us to do. I also understand that not everyone sees it that way.

Although we are a small firm, I’ve noticed that on recent proposals we were submitting for entrepreneurship training programs, we were competing against two 40-billion dollar organizations!

I never saw myself or ISM as a competitor of these huge institutions — but clearly, the market assumes I can compete with them. I’m proud and humbled and depressed at the same time, knowing we are up against such huge organizations. But it gives me hope that the work we are doing allows us to compete with them.

This proposal was for a project small enough that I want to think large institutions wouldn’t be interested in it. The reality, however, is that the market has shifted in the last few years and everyone is looking for work.

Perhaps you are thinking “I’m too small” — I’m not big enough” in terms of your markets and opportunities.

It’s OK to think that.

It’s OK to act on that thought.

But it’s not OK to live it. What I meant is that when you compete with yourself, you’ll find your way to compete with the big players, and maybe even earn first place.

We built ISM on working with under-served and under-represented communities, specifically in entrepreneurship and small business development. Specifics such as these can make a difference in how your company is viewed globally.

I encourage you to reflect on your business — on what specifics did you build your business? What are you known for? What is the core of your business? Forget all the fluff, look at the core.

As long as you get to the core, compete with it every day to provide services that are outstanding, and continue to build and let the market determine who your competitors are.

You don’t have to decide who they are — the market can decide who they are as long as you continue to provide outstanding products or services to your customers and you communities.

BEFORE YOU GO

We see our blogs as opportunities for dialogue. Please share your thoughts as comments.

1. Who are your competitors? Be specific.
2. Do you compete in a cooperative way or an aggressive way?
3. What are your thoughts about competing with others?

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Faris Alami is Founder and CEO of International Strategic Management, Inc. (ISM). He works internationally, presenting Exploring Entrepreneurship Workshops and other entrepreneurial ecosystem — related ventures.