Tammi's World

True Competition

I thrive on competition. I love it. I'm a very nice loser.....but a really shitty winner. I will happy dance, I will hoot and holler....I. Will. Rub. It. In. That's playin' games or in business.

But I also ALWAYS play fair. I like an even playing field. You vs. Me. Mano a Mano (so to speak). We each have a set of skills. We each have a history. GO.........

That's one reason I never hesitate in switching industries. I went from Steel to OJ to Mattresses. Sales is sales is sales. It's all about focus, work ethic, problem solving - you get the idea.

It's also one reason I never switch to a competitor. When I left the steel distribution company I worked for I left the industry. Period. When I left Trop, I talked to competitors in the same line, but had no interest. Part of that was the unfair advantage I had.....I knew what was going on. I knew background that no one else did. It's like being able to read someone's mind in a chess game. And I gotta say - there is no fun in that. I wanna win because I earned it. Not because of some secret I know.

So....one of my teammates quit yesterday. He went to a competitor. I'm glad for him. He'll make a boatload of money, the company will let him run his territory HIS way, he'll have complete freedom. He will begin that leg of his career with "respect". It's what he wants, it's what he needs.

However...........you know, and I know, he's gonna start hammering our current customers. He's going to go in and use what he knows about our programs to his advantage. No matter what anyone says, no matter their intentions, it happens EVERY TIME.

But that takes the game to a new level. One I don't enjoy. If it were apples to apples I know I could win every single time, hands down. No questons asked. I don't fight dirty. I never bad mouth my competition (to my customers). I talk about what MY product is, the quality in MY product, OUR service. And then just charm the shit right out of those decision makers. THAT'S the way to play this game.

Also - since I'm on a rambling roll - my life just got that much more complicated. Someone, some where, has to cover his territory. Guess who that is?! Yep, Tammi. But, I also have to cover mine, and pay extra attention so as not to leave myself vulnerable to attack. There are only so many hours in a day. There is no possible way to be in Tampa and Daytona at the same time.

Yeah - the game just got wrenched up a notch. It's about to get really interesting. And I don't mean that in a good way!

Posted by Tammi at February 18, 2005 07:26 AM