Do you believe you have competition?

Hoop City Loves,

Question for all of you hoop business owners or product makers out there: Do you believe you have competition inside the community? Does it make you feel icky, angry or ripped off? How do you handle feelings like that when/if they arise?

 

It's been a long, windy road for me and this topic. In 2007 when I first co-created the lightweight firehoop with cable spines, I stumbled upon a viable business that grew and grew and eventually became my main income source and passion. As time passed, more manufacturers popped up created similar styles and elements... Now of course there are many companies out there touting 'high performance, lightweight' firehoops, 'original designs' and blah blah blah. There was a time when this certainly got under my skin. 

 

That time has passed. When we came together in the preliminary conversations with Hoop Drum about merging to create a better, more customer-based company that SERVED the community, I felt like I had come home. We outlined a set of values that felt good in my heart - values that I could really stand behind: http://www.synergyfirehoops.com/pages/about-us

 

And this doesn't just apply to products. Have you encountered difficult emotions when/if you feel your dance style, your tricks, your character are immitated? I hear about these things all the time. I'm sure you do too.

 

The following article is written by my dad. He's a brilliant small business coach/motivational speaker in Colorado, and as soon as this one hit the press I thought it'd be nice to share here. Maybe it will help us all realize or more deeply understand that the game is about following your heart, serving others, and fully expressing YOUR OWN SELF, however that may look or be interpreted. There is a better way to move.

 

I've copied it here, but if you'd like to read it on his blog site or other great articles on business thinking, they can be found here: http://chuckblakeman.com/2010/12/texts/your-competition-isnt

 

________

 

Your Competition, Isn't.

Scarcity thinking will keep you poor.

 

I’ve sold millions in big contracts and small and never once thought about “competition.” It’s NEVER a factor. I don’t think I have any. I don’t believe you do, either. If you think you do, you’re probably not thinking straight.

 

Big business loves to teach us to do “SWOT” analyses" where the “T” is for “Threats”, those evil competitors who are going to swoop in and steal our clients any day. The only threats you should ever be worried about come from within your own company and your own head.

 

The problem is bad thinking and bad strategies on your part. Some examples:

 

You either live in a world of abundance or a world of scarcity, and whichever one you choose affects everything you do.

This isn’t woo-woo crap. This is hard-core success thinking. If you live in a zero sum world then there’s only so much to go around, and you better get yours before the next guy gets his. If you live in a world of abundance you figure out how to help other people be successful so that you can be, too. I do a weekly lunch with 50-60 business owners and regularly have “competition” there who “steal” potential clients. I’m glad they find clients there. I do, too. Everyone says it’s the best weekly lunch environment they’ve ever been around, because it’s based on living in a world of abundance.

 

People who focus on trying to figure out what makes their competition successful don’t have enough good ideas of their own.

We don’t have time to figure out what others are doing – we’re too busy trying to breathe life into our own ideas. Focus on getting better, not on your competition.

 

Focus on your client’s needs, not your competition’s products.

I expend a lot of energy figuring out what my clients need (which isn’t necessarily what they always want right away). If you do that, you won’t have time to focus on what other providers are doing.

 

You’re a terrible guesser, anyway.

I’ve seen companies dissect the products, services or marketing of other companies, then mimic it, only to find out they were mimicking the worst part of what the others were doing. You thought it was what made them successful and so did they. They’re thanking you for helping them see it clearly while you go out of business.

 

The two last words of a dying company are “Me, Too.”

The best way to ensure you are irrelevant is to mimic other people’s successes rather than creating your own. That strategy is fundamental to a world of scarcity, but worse yet it shows a complete lack of originality, passion, cause, mission, or joy in what you do. And it means you’re only in it for the money and people who try to make money make a lot less than people who birth something the world can use.

 

If someone “beats” you, they simply have something the customer needs that you don’t.

Rejoice for the customer. If you also have things other customers will want, you’ll attract those relationships and the other guy won’t. When you try to be all things to all men you become nothing to anyone (a wandering generality vs. a meaningful specific – Ziz Zigler).

If you have something meaningful to offer, you will get customers. If you don’t you won’t. Blaming “competitors” for “losing” contracts is nonsense. Just get better in a few things and go deeper, not wider. If you’re not losing a lot of opportunities, you’re too wide and likely are delivering on the edge of mediocrity. Not a great long term strategy.

 

The bottom line

Get the idea of competition out of your head and focus on being the best at whatever great idea you’ve birthed. And while you’re at it, try to figure out how to make the other guy successful, too. You’ll make a lot more money and have a lot more fun.

 

 

 

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Siren of the Circle* on December 10, 2010 at 12:38pm

Thanks for posting this.  I make and sell hoops, but I have no problem referring a customer elsewhere if I don't have what they need.  For example, I don't make push button collapsibles (yet), so when someone wanted one I told them about Troo Hoops - I've never used one but I've read great reviews about their products and customer service so I happily referred them the business.

Permalink Reply by Troo Hoops on January 26, 2011 at 9:28am

Cool. Thank you. You know we do the same thing with some of the locals. You can't be afraid of competition.

 

At the end of the day having strong customer service, a warranty and return policy, and fufilling orders on time are what help make a company strong, especially if others are selling the identical product.

Permalink Reply by amie sunshine on December 10, 2010 at 12:49pm

I'm really glad you posted this, as well.  I have my own company and recently, a girl I know started asking questions about my website, my hoops and my services.  About a week later, she has a site and offers almost the same services I do.  At first, this really got to me.  However, my company has been moving in a great direction and I've realized that as long as I keep my focus, and just 'do me', I'll succeed - no matter what she's doing. 

 

I also agree with Siren.  I have no problem referring people elsewhere.  I don't yet make LED hoops, so I often have a list of places when people ask me for them.  Hooping is an art community.  It is meant to be shared.  As in any art, there are always going to be 'rip-offs'.  As long as you stay true to who YOU are, none of it matters.  The 'rip-offs' are only hurting themselves.

Permalink Reply by Snowzilla of Flowlab.ca* on December 10, 2010 at 1:22pm

This exact same thing happened to me, Amie.  I was approached by a lady  who had questions about my classes, and I was extremely open and forthcoming in my response to her - only to discover she was already planning her own business venture doing the same thing.  The lack of integrity really got under my skin.  But like you, I've made a decision to keep focusing on what *I'm* doing right and how I can continue to do it better, and the results speak for themselves.  I am so incredibly fortunate to be doing what I love as my job and my main source of income, and I made a choice to push that negativity out and stay focused on the feelings of motivation and accomplishment and pride in what I do.  Like Jodie said below - be better, do better.   And it must be working, because I'm too bloody busy for anything else anyways.  :p

 

I have no problem referring people elsewhere if I am not able to help them personally.  :)

 

Shakti, thank you so much for posting this. I think it is very, very timely given the continued growth of hooping as an art and as a business venture.  :)   I've always enjoyed your writing so much, and I can see where some of that came from through the words of your very wise father!

Permalink Reply by MaisieHoops of *HulaHoopers.ca* on December 10, 2010 at 12:56pm

I LOVE your attitude and I LOVE your Dad's article!! 


Stomping your feet, pouting and complaining will never draw you  more customers.  You need to get out there and just be better.  Do better. 

Thanks for the great read!!!

Permalink Reply by Sarah Maccarelli Jordan on December 17, 2010 at 1:13pm

I agree with Maisie...well said! :)

Permalink Reply by GlowBunny on December 10, 2010 at 1:17pm

Your father is a very good motivational speaker. Im not involved in any sort of competition or anything but I enjoyed reading this.

Permalink Reply by Sarah "Dwiizie" on December 10, 2010 at 1:23pm
Good stuff. I don't really like being competitive, but you're always going to have someone trying to compete with you whether you like it or not, and its human nature to want to say "In yo FACE!" Every now and then, I unfortunately succumb to that desire and whip out my best just to prove a point, but I really don't like when I allow someone else to manipulate me into feeling like I have to compete. Or as Miyagi would say "Fighting never good, but when must fight...win." lol USUALLY though, if I feel someone trying to compete with me when I don't want that there, I step back and separate myself from them so that they don't pull my energy into it. I do love all of your dad's thoughts and everything in this post, a lot of things I feel like I felt or knew in some way already, but affirmation is good. Nicely done, thanks! :)
Permalink Reply by Miss Texas on December 10, 2010 at 1:29pm

I have felt this way at times, never with hooping but in other areas in my life. Thanks for posting this, it was certainly an interesting read and makes you think about things differently.

Permalink Reply by Martika* of MartikasMysticDesign on December 10, 2010 at 3:47pm

I really needed this topic. I started selling fabric wrapped hula hoops and there is currently no one that makes them like i do. I've put a lot of work and creativity into my hoops, I treat my hoops like a painter would his canvas. I was worried that people would try to copy my idea and the artistic nature of my hoops would be lost. I am worrying to much about what other people are doing and need to focus on my growth.My business is still very new and there is much i still need to work on.

Permalink Reply by Stellar Sunshine* on January 26, 2011 at 10:25am
Martika - Your hoops are gorgeous and unique! 
Permalink Reply by Amanda of Hip Flick Hoops* on December 17, 2010 at 9:57am

Thanks for posting! :)

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