HOW TO TURN YOUR COMPETTYTIVENESS INTO COMPADREISM!

with Debbie Whincop of Spreading Roomers

C’mon ladies! Don’t tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about. Those stellar businesses in ‘our’ industries who seemingly hop out of bed every morning, looking like the ‘perfect fairy’ helped them get ready (cough – TRACY HARRIS!!). Eating a big fat bowl of ambition for breakfast, followed by a side of motivation; they spend the rest of the day ripping a new one into all they do but in the most amazingly, fabulously, on-point way that you were just about to….wait….damn it! She beat me to it!!!!!!!!

 

Hi hustlers! I’m Deb from Spreading Roomers. I’m the authenticity lover who creatively coaches businesses in the interiors and lifestyle sectors on how best to market their unique brand. I’m outside of the box and I like to talk about ‘core values’ a lot. Today however; I want to talk to you about competition and why I believe it’s a good thing.

WHAT IS COMPETTYTIVENESS?

…and why do you need to cut that sucker loose?
I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve watched someone in my field kick goals like its grand final day, and I’ll be the first to admit, in my very early days I likely invested way too much time and energy concerning myself with what they might do next (inner psychic abilities – check! Stalking abilities – check! slightly unhinged – check!).
What’s insane about this pathway is that it’s not a positive one. It creates doubt, insecurity, comparisonitis (that’s for another blog post), fear, but most of all – total dilution of your own brand story, and that equals – really bad for your business!!

BUT I WAS JUST ABOUT TO DO THAT – I MUST DISLIKE THIS PERSON FOREVER!!

Right? Absolutely not!!
So they beat you to it; good for them. If you had the ‘idea’ but did nothing about it, it makes total sense to blame someone that did? [side note : this blog is called ‘compettytiveness’ not ‘copycats’ – that’s another blog post].

 

Or perhaps it’s a conspiracy. Yeah, that sounds about right, it’s the universe's way of telling you you’re not cut out for this. Where were you? What if it’s the universe's way of providing you with an industry GPS? Like a navigation system that equips you with learning, invaluable observation, market research and friendship.

DID SHE JUST SAY FRIENDSHIP?

I know on paper it seems unlikely, and if I were to be brutally honest, it still requires a solid inner radar on approach and perhaps a little skipping around the periphery before you start exchanging apple pie recipes and 4 ingredient cocktails (but that’s another blog post!). But; once you are satisfied that this individual is on the level, then proceed with arms open ladies!!
Firstly; you have absolutely nothing to lose. They are already your competitor. You are already loosely on opposing sides, but here’s the thing so many (in particular) women in business totally glean over and that is you have NO idea how amazing THEY think YOU are!

LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE

It’s the energetic law of the universe. ENERGY aligns where it feels most strong. You will be compelled toward certain individuals and those toward you so follow your instincts on this. Once you have cut through the small talk of babies, setting up business, or the overuse of the snapchat flower crown, you will quickly move onto the really chewy stuff – what you do well. This is GROWTH conversation ladies!

It's’ a very simple but clever way for you to quickly audit and assess your own business model – remembering you are unique to you, you believe in authenticity and you applaud those who do it well. This is not an exercise in stealing ideas, products or service. It’s a gentlewoman's agreement to respect and use each other’s knowledge, experience, failures, successes and growth as additional structure and steering.

BENEFITS OF A COMPADRE-ISM

Forgetting for a second that you get save precious ‘air time’ having to constantly explain your day, situation or issue (as they just get it – sorry husbands or wives – but FINALLY!!!) I’ve highlighted 13 ways that befriending your competition can be of benefit to business owners :

1. MINDSET PART 1

This is the school yard dilemma all over again but the bigger person actually does rise above petty to and fro and quickly realises it’s in THEIR best interest to run a less mentality exhausting journey. It’s a cleansing!

2. BRAND STORY

How do you propose to author your own authentic voice, content and brand without having any understanding of your competitor’s. This is also why SWOT can be so invaluable.

3. COLLABORATION

The best way to compete is alongside someone who makes you ‘lift’ (not talking kg’s here!)

4. CRITIQUE

You get unrivalled feedback where you best require it – gold!

5. SUPPORT

Being an entrepreneur can be lonely with few you can trust; now you can.

6. ACCOUNTABILITY

It’s like an unspoken spell but suddenly you’d rather cut your own ear off then drop the ball. Motivational lapses and self-doubt self-sabotages become less frequent.

7. GROWTH

The sooner you can face your fears and understand your competition, the better equipped you will be to identifying your own strengths and gaps in the current market.

8. OPPORTUNITY

This stems directly from 7. New doors will open as soon as your mindset does.

9. MINDSET PART 2

You no longer assume that everyone does it better than you and you begin to realise you have something fabulous to offer.

10. REPUTATION

Word of mouth IS actually the Holy Grail of marketing. People talk. Make it worth their while. A recommend from a fellow industry player is premium in the rep stakes.

11. OUTSOURCING

If you were swamped and unable to accommodate all the ins and outs of small business, who would you ask for recommends that you felt you could really rely on?

12. LEARNING

Skills learnt direct from your industry are typically cream!

13. GIVING BACK

Being able to guide others who look up to you is how this revolving door of give and take works. It will build your self-esteem and fine tune your own processes.
The key to being great at what you do not only comes from putting in the hard yards but also by accepting how great other people can be too. If nailing stellar and sincere word of mouth is the Holy Grail of marketing, this is one of the major hotspots on the map to achieving it and enjoying the journey. Think smarter not harder.

 

MEET DEBBIE 

Spreading Roomers is a little different to most creative businesses. Having dedicated my services to the niche platform of interiors, lifestyle and design I have the ability to provide a unique but personal style of business coaching. Think engaged fearless creative with a rare fusion of business sense and a true passion for your core values and brand personality. Why? Because I’m completely in love with the industry (and I’m a firm believer that boundaries were created to provoke a little push and shove)!

 

 

CONNECT WITH DEBBIE

Web: https://www.spreadingroomers.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.whincop 

Instagram: http://instagram.com/spreading_roomers