One of the most powerful driving forces in human nature is competition. The desire to overcome something or some company, the need to win, the cause, can in many cases be more important than the day-to-day work of the company.
If your company and your people are to ever reach some level of greatness, you must identify and focus on beating something, on creating and communicating a reason for being.
If your reason for being is that you got fired, so you decided to go into business for yourself, then maybe all you will ever create is a job.
Now, understand that when I say enemy or competition, I'm not necessarily suggesting something negative. While the folks at Apple Computer will tell you that their reason for being is often rooted in beating Microsoft, many organizations also draw motivation from saving things, ridding the world of things, creating peace, making life more enjoyable, teaching, sharing, spreading and a host of other very positive things.
And that's the point. Small business owners often have no readily identifiable group of competitors or Goliath to aim at but they may find motivation in a great cause or reason for being and connecting that that great cause can become the drive to play the game at the highest level.
Your cause can be grand or it can be humble, but find it and you will be much more prepared to market your business, run your business with passion, hire people who support the cause and create a vision for your business. Great causes possess the power of attraction.
Think what you do isn't grand enough to call a cause?
I will rid the world of bad advertising, one ad at a time. We will prove that tax preparation can be fun. We will empower anyone to buy a home. I will make my customers so overwhelmingly thrilled they will refer their friends and neighbors willingly. I will ensure that no one will ever be afraid to go to the dentist again.
Are you starting to see how this kind of thinking and the notion of focusing on competition could help drive your actions?
What if you could actually connect your beliefs and values to your reason for being? Would that provide motivation to do more? Would that start to feel like more than a job?
So, what is your organization's cause for being? Aim high and let your cause guide you, your people and your clients to greatness.
Copyright 2004 John Jantsch
About The Author
John Jantsch is a marketing coach and the creator of Duct Tape Marketing. Find out more and recieve you free small business marketing guide at http://www.ducttapemarketing.com.
When you start your program to purchase your "ideal" company,... Read More
Imagine an office without a desk, or lights, a computer,... Read More
David E. Gumpert, author of Burn Your Business Plan, often... Read More
Remember reading "Alice in Wonderland?"She asks the Cheshire Cat, "which... Read More
Is there a 'magical' way to exponentially grow your business?It's... Read More
As fast as you can say business disaster, your business... Read More
When developing the competition section of your business plan, companies... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains serves mid-size and large clients... Read More
"Most great plans aren't. They are just nice, high-level ideas."That's... Read More
Please take a moment before you read any further and... Read More
ACTION PLANNING: Action Planning is a process to develop strategies... Read More
"Begin with the end in mind," says Stephen Covey in... Read More
When looking at Akron carefully one cannot help but notice... Read More
The decision to sell, or not to sell your business... Read More
Last week we talked about a few of the ways... Read More
Part 1A few weeks ago I attended a seminar sponsored... Read More
Does the competition drive you crazy?Are they relentless about taking... Read More
No matter what business you plan to start in your... Read More
American Eagle Outfitters and Wet Seal Stores have issued statements... Read More
Where would your business be without a proper plan? A... Read More
If ever there were an industry where we want zero... Read More
Strategic planning is vital while starting a new business or... Read More
Possibly THE most frequently asked question of me is "What... Read More
When in doubt, cut that out! Yeah, yea, doubting Thomas... Read More
There is a story, about a business owner who wasn't... Read More
After 128 years of business, a household word, Montgomery Wards,... Read More
Possibly THE most frequently asked question of me is "What... Read More
It's easy to lose sight of what needs to be... Read More
Private equity firms have raised so much capital over the... Read More
Are you frustrated by the lack of growth in your... Read More
The University of Exeter in the United Kingdom recently published... Read More
"Most great plans aren't. They are just nice, high-level ideas."That's... Read More
How important is a vision statement to your company or... Read More
This will make some people angry as hell, but it's... Read More
The time when a website was just a simple set... Read More
"Bozo" ? A clown with a forlorn look, always finding... Read More
Many movies have been made about the tragic story of... Read More
ACTION PLANNING: Action Planning is a process to develop strategies... Read More
Business planning is widely acknowledged as one of the keys... Read More
Q: A key investor in my business has suggested that... Read More
The goal of almost every business owner is to generate... Read More
I love the excitement of starting up a new home... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains serves mid-size and large clients... Read More
The format of a Business Plan is something that has... Read More
Before becoming a netpreneaur, I was an entrepreneur. First, I... Read More
More than $117 billion passed hands from Internet shoppers to... Read More
Too much goal setting and strategic planning can leave you... Read More
Growing your own small business can be one of the... Read More
I'm not talking about posting the HBO schedule on your... Read More
If you're a solo professional like I am, you know... Read More
Strategic Planning |