Do you believe in competition? I know, it’s sort of a vague question. As far as your business goes, competition is something I see many of my clients stress over.
Too many women business owners worry about their “competitors”.
And this does nothing but distract you from your main purpose. The purpose that you worked so hard to achieve. Which is to build a life-changing brand that gives you inspiration every day.
And trust me, you have enough going on to worry about what everyone else is doing.
I’m here to tell you something many people may disagree with me on...but I’m going to say it anyway.
There’s no such thing as competition when it comes to your business.
Your business is exactly that — your business. You built it the way you wanted to and that makes it unique.
Let’s dive in deeper.
Is She Really Your Competitor?
When you searched online, you came across another lady with your same mission.
She has the same type of business as you and appears to be doing very well. You quickly become intimidated by her.
"Wow! She must be doing everything right."
You think she’s your rival because she offers the exact same service to the same target audience. You even strive to run your business the way she does.
She’s an expert in her field, so it makes sense to want to become like her. But...would this really benefit you? She may offer similar services, but she’s not you. And you’re not her.
I honestly believe the part of your business that makes you different is you. You know that your business should have a unique selling proposition –– or USP as you’ve heard the gurus call it. Something that makes it stand out from the rest.
I believe that your USP is you.
The way you run your business is different from the way anyone else in your position would run your business. That alone sets you apart. People want to work with people they connect with. It’s only natural.
You’re going to attract a different clientele than that expert you found online. That’s a good thing! You want to attract those that want what you bring to the table. Because you bring something unique.
Focus on Yourself
Success starts with you.
If you focus on the value you bring and try to be the best version of yourself — you won’t even have time to worry about who you think your competition is.
You should always work on getting better at whatever it is you do. This is something you should continue to do. Whether you read books, listen to podcasts, or practice your craft — you should strive to always be learning.
Not only will you become more confident in yourself, you’ll also be able to showcase your confidence to your clients.
You should also be aware of how you come across to others in general and know how your audience views you.
Like I mentioned before, people join people. If they see themselves in you — or resonate with you in some way — you will attract them to your business.
So, it’s always best to “be yourself” and “show yourself”.
The more transparent you are, the easier it will be for your audience to get to know you. And the more they will trust you and your opinions.
You’re only in competition with yourself.
Change Your Mindset
When I see another businesswoman succeed, I feel inspired. I don’t view it in a way that she is any better than me.
Everyone has a different story. It’s how you use your story to help others that counts.
I know that I have different talents, aspirations, life experiences… and more. I also have different views on the world than she does.
And I am completely capable of being just as successful as she is in her career. If you have this mentality too, you’ll be able to accomplish anything.
Something important I also want to point out is that you don’t know her journey. Maybe she’s had hardships she’s had to overcome on her way to the top. In fact...I can almost promise she did.
Every person who is successful has failed at something. Even Oprah Winfrey — known for being on TV — was demoted at one of her first jobs in television1. (I’m sure that job regrets it now)
But this goes to show us that even the “Greats” have stories of failure.
To get past the self-doubt and jealousy, you need to change your mindset.
I know… it’s easier said than done. But my goal today is to change the way you think about competition.
Because once you do that you’ll have a whole new outlook on yourself.
How Can We Uplift Instead of Compete?
You might be compelled to not give advice or insight into someone else’s business because you think you’re “sharing your secrets”.
Or you think you’ll get left behind in the dust if they “know what you know”.
We should change this frame of mind and help each other.
Next time someone asks for help, step up and help. Or better yet, you make the first offer.
If we all did this, women would take over the business world!
As women, we need to be able to support each other’s dreams. And as women entrepreneurs, we should be able to celebrate each other’s accomplishments.
If you keep comparing yourself to others, you will quickly get defeated. And that can’t be good for your business.
Instead, let’s join hands to make each woman stronger.
We live in a digital world, so finding support is simple with our laptops at our fingertips.
There are women all over the world looking for accountability partners, and they are easy to find.
A major benefit of being part of a tribe of women around the world is you get many different viewpoints on things. That can become a benefit for your clients too!
If you’re ready to join a community of ambitious women who really look out for each other, come check out The Women’s Brand Accelerator Mentorship.
I created it to unite women and help them reach their dreams! With the help of my personal mentorship.
Because women who have support are more likely to be successful2.
You can now Book a FREE 45-minute Brand Planning Strategy Session to learn more about our group coaching and mentorship program.
See how Alina COMPLETELY UPGRADED her business after joining:
“Before I found Simone, I had been trying to build my business for several months by myself. I wasted a lot of time on trivial things, and I wasn’t moving forward. I had a lot of anxiety and stress because I didn’t know what I was offering, I wasn’t sure why clients would choose me over 100 other language mentors. Before, I thought that I could figure everything out on my own and that I didn’t need any help. How wrong I was! Why try to reinvent the wheel when it has already been invented?
It’s so important to have support, to connect with like-minded people and to build a right strategy.
Working with Simone, was one of the best decisions I have made for me and my business.”
Alina Krasnozhon