One of the best things about living in today’s world is the ability to participate in Free Enterprise. If you’re here online then you can easily see the benefits of participating in a Free Enterprise market place. Everyone, including the traditional brick and mortar businesses benefit with Free Enterprise.
There are many benefits of participating in a Free Enterprise market place. It gives the business owner freedom. Freedom to create a business of their own choosing, providing whatever service or product their heart desires. It allows them to open the doors to their business just about anywhere, including their own home. It gives them the ability to work on their own schedule and to be their own boss.
This fact right here is why so many of us have gone into Networking Marketing. The ability to be your own boss, work your schedule on your time and the flexibility and freedom that goes with it.
A Free Enterprise system also creates something else. Something that everyone from the owner to the end consumer benefits from. It brings competition.
Is competition good? Absolutely! For one, it fosters greater creativity, ever increasing value, and this benefits everyone. So, if competition is good…why do so many people bash the competition?
Are you someone that is the first to say something bad about your competition in order to make your product or service look better? Do you jump on the band wagon and breath flames of gossip into the fire of your competitions misfortune?
When your competition announces a new technology, break through, or product do you down play it and say it’s nothing…my company does that too?…better?
Even worse…you never even consider referring business to your competition because you want it all for yourself.
If you’ve ever considered any of these or anything similar I want to caution you against something that you’ve probably never even considered.
How does doing something like this make you look in the eyes of your prospect?
Do you think they don’t see what you’re doing?
Do you think it builds there confidence in you?
More importantly, do you think it will move them closer or farther away from doing business with you?
If you’ve been following my blog you’ll know I’ve been reading Go Givers Sell More. Something I’ve learned has been repeated here in this great book. And that is simply…competition is good, it’s healthy, and most importantly should be respected…not Trashed!
When you compliment your competitor, you are demonstrating respect. Respect earns respect. It also send a message to your prospect that you are confident. You are successful. You come across as authentic and safe. Your prospect will trust you.
Your prospect, be it a client, customer, or a business builder is smart. They can see what you do. If one of the things you do is bash your competition in order to make yourself look better…in the end, you’ll lose. They might jump on board with your product or service but eventually, they’ll see who you really are and they will ultimately move on to something else.
Network Marketing/Direct Sales is a great industry. Great people are born in this industry. People that have strong character and high moral values. There are many outstanding companies in our industry. All with great products or services that help many improve their lives.
Yes, my company is a great company. Guess what, so is your company. Is my companies products or service right for everybody? Not always. Are yours? I doubt it. My point is this. Free Enterprise allows a business and the consumer the ability to choose. Choose their product, choose their service and choose whether or not to buy it.
We all have a choice. Why hurt your chances by speaking badly of your competition. Speak highly of them and your prospect will see that you are a person of character, a person of integrity and in the end may decide to do business with you.
Why, because they now know you, like you, and more importantly, trust you.
I trust that you found value in this post. I’d love to hear your comments and how you perceive competition in your business. I’d also appreciate it if you’d share this with your friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter.
Thanks for stopping by. Until next time, Live Your Best Life!
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Well, on a foundational level, I fully believe that cooperation over competition is the way to go ~ just like you said it is healthy and shows respect.
But I feel like there are layers here. I am all for supporting any like-minded, passionate people in their ventures, but as a professional in the network marketing industry, if someone is evaluating companies and looking for a home, I will tell it like it is. History and trends tell us a lot, and for me to hold back “out of respect” for another company is in the end dis-respecting the person who is looking to me for counsel. The truth is, that 1 out of 1000 companies is worth a second look in this industry …. I know that may sound harsh, but if people are looking to actually create a lasting, long-term residual income, those are the facts.
You know me Don, I am a huge supporter of people following their dreams, but am also a huge supporter of people succeeding! Never bash, yes, but advise? Well, I think that’s just part of doing business with integrity.
.-= Beth Allen´s last blog ..Is Your Attention on Your Intention? =-.
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Don Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Yes Beth, I agree with you to some extent on this. Advising is part of our role and giving direction is part of that too. I think I know you and how you’d do this and you would do it with complete integrity. The point I was looking to convey was that all too often their are others in this industry that really bash all companies in the attempt to lure them to there their company.
Treating people and companies with respect is healthy. Assisting others to make sound decisions is good advice.
Thanks for sharing your point of view.
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I think this is an important issue to raise, Don, and I appreciate your attempts to be fair and respectful.
I think I’m slanted a bit more in the direction that Beth is, here. I think that as a professional you must be candid in pointing out both strengths and weaknesses of the competition, not to bash, but to inform, and to permit your own clients to make their own informed decisions.
Thanks again, Don, this is an issue we should all be concerned about.
.-= David Merrill´s last blog ..Cash For Blogging: How To Monetize Your Blog & Social Media =-.
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Don Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Thanks David,
Both you and Beth make great points. To be honest, I really had to “curb” my tongue with this post because there have been times when I’ve really wanted to go off and rant about some of the competition. We’ve all seen some blatantly bad things online.
Tonight we spoke of being of service to others. No doubt, what you mention is providing service. The subtly lies in how all this is presented.
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Don,
Technology has created so many opportunities as a result we have so many options available to us and Internet marketing is one of them. Youtube, FaceBook, and Twitter have made it so possible for so many people to have a voice and access, I can only imagine what’s on the horizon
Great post
Thanks
Garth
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Hi Don, awesome post and I totally get what you are saying here. I think as an industry we all need to support each other in the most positive light as possible in order to lift up the over all perception of network marketing.
I have had two interactions recently with people, both in reputable companies, from both ends of the spectrum. One, was totally putting down/bashing my company with hopes of swaying me to join his. The result? Really turned me off and pretty much eliminated any chance of me having any interactions with this person on any level again. More concerning was that this hurts all of us industry wide. What if he had been talking to someone who is getting their first look at network marketing. What kind of impression will this make on them? and how does that affect them being receptive to any of us? Not very good. The second, was a person with just an extreme amount of integrity who really gave me good advice that assisted me in evaluating and making some decisions. I won’t think twice about partnering with this person on a project given the right circumstances.
Beth really makes a good point in her comment though. Advise not bash but at the same time tell it like it is. Can really be a fine line because what is appealing to one isn’t always to another.
Great thought provoking post Don, thanks for sharing!
~Kara
.-= Kara Grabenhorst´s last blog ..Don’t like it? Change it NOW =-.
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Don Reply:
April 28th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Kara,
You illustrate the point I was making perfectly. I may not always have the opportunity to work directly with someone in my business but a person with integrity opens the door to partnering in other efforts. A great mutual relationship can be formed and who knows where it will lead. As an example, just look at what is going on within our tribe. People working in separate companies but partnering together to support each other and work together.
Thanks Kara
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Hi Don,
Wonderful insights! I grew up in the country where I participated in 4-H Clubs. We cooked and sewed and entered our creations in the county fairs. The judges used what is known as the Danish Judging System. In this system, everyone who does high quality work can get a blue ribbon. So, I grew up believing that everyone can succeed. . . there is room for everyone to contribute and be their best.
I am 100% in agreement that you do yourself a disservice when you criticize the competition. There is no need. If your product does not stand on its own merits, then you might be in the wrong product.
Thanks for addressing this sensitive topic!
Mentor Mama
.-= Nancy Burke Barr´s last blog ..INTERNET MARKETING: A Lesson Learned From Herding Goats =-.
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Great post Don,
This has brought about some wonderful interactions. I believe that a person should speak of their company honestly and openly, answering any inquires in that form. I also believe that if a person inquires about another company,they should be directed to that company for answers. That way you stay in integrity.
Thanks for sharing a thought -provoking post!
Val
.-= Val Wilcox´s last blog ..Which Bridge in Life to Use… =-.
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Don Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Val,
You’re right, this had brought about some interesting thoughts and comments. You mentioned integrity. For me, I think as long as you can stay in integrity you can go either route if you are following your gut, and being authentic.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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Hey Don, awesome post. I absolutely like your ideas. I really learned some values in this post. I strongly believe, Free enterprise has opened its doors for some people that wants to work in the comforts of their own home and during their own time. Most people now are looking for work opportunities with Competition. Competition is exciting and have wonderful benefits. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, don. More power
Jon
.-= Jon Alfredsson´s last blog ..5 Reasons Why You Need An Accountability Partner =-.
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Don,
Your insight in to the power of competition is fabulous. I agree, everyone can represent a great company, but every company is not great for everyone.
Scott.
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Don – The rule of “don’t trash your competition” was one of the first things I learned years ago when I first started in sales. It is so important – and yes I have even sent customers to my competition if I didn’t have what they were looking for. And you know what – it didn’t hurt me at all on the grand scheme of things:) Nice lesson here!
.-= Glyna Humm´s last blog ..Blog in a Box? – Almost! =-.
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Hi Don,
Thanks for the thought provoking post.
I agree wholeheartedly that to speak poorly of or ‘bash’ the competition does little to elevate the credibility of our industry (or any industry) for that matter.
Beth raises some great points and I think at the end of the day, none of us want to see people get ripped off or join companies that are known for unscrupulous practices.
Having said that, I think there needs to be a middle ground. You know the old saying of “If you can’t say something good about someone, then don’t say it at all”. I think the same applies to talking about other opportunities. If someone mentions a competitor to me that I know is an ‘A’ company, I will reply by saying yes I agree that xyz company is a great company! If I think the company in question has a less than desirable reputation I usually choose to say nothing.
Competition is a great thing to have and should be used to spur people’s greatness rather than bring out their worst
Michaelé
.-= Michaelé Harrington´s last blog ..5 Powerful Blog Plugins That Build Community & Increase Page Views =-.
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Don Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Thanks Michaele,
This post has certainly had some great comments and some interesting view points. You’re right the people we are around within our tribe do not want to see other people get steered the wrong way. we look out for other people’s interests. Sadly, that isn’t the case with some of the others out there.
Thanks for contributing to the conversation.
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Hi Don,
I am so glad I found this post in your archives! Yes indeed, Free Enterprise IS good and I applaud you for writing so candidly about why those of us who choose to be entrepreneurs should respect our competition and never bash it. I do not understand what compels people (other than fear and low self-esteem) to tear down someone else as a means of making themselves seem better, bigger, more profitable, etc. In the end, negativity breeds negativity and never leads to long-term success. We as Network Marketers need to support each other as the more we do that, the greater the overall perception of our chosen profession becomes to those who are looking in on it for the first time, or for those who are looking again, perhaps through jaded eyes.
Terrific post! Words and sentiments to live by!
Mary Lou
Mary Lou Kayser recently posted..Why I Recommend the Association of Better Networkers to All Network Marketers
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