I'll admit it. Sometimes I harp on certain topics and repeat them periodically in this newsletter.
OK, sometimes, more often than periodically.
But that's because they're super important. Like really really REALLY important. I know -- it could get a bit annoying but please indulge me.
One such topic is the importance of:
Being Different, Being Unique,
Distinguishing Yourself from Your Competition
This is Business 101. Absolutely crucial. Absolutely essential. No way around it.
And yet despite how often I repeat it... and all the different ways I say it... I still see people (A LOT of people) go about business as usual, look like, sound like, act like everyone else in their industry.
And they wonder why their business is suffering.
Let me say it succinctly:
Unless you communicate to your market what makes you different than your competition, even if it's a superficial reason to begin with, you'll struggle to get a competitive advantage, much less rise to the top ranks.
These aren't my rules; these are the rules of the marketplace.
What's that? You want an example. Ok sure.
CAVEAT: I'm not saying this is what you should do -- I'm just showing you how one person was able to distinguish himself from every single person in his town:
In Northern Syria, a man named Abu Zakour wears yellow every day (see photo above) from head to toe: jacket, shirt, pants, shoes, hat, etc. He's been doing this for 39 years. He's famous. People recognize him everywhere he goes. There's no mistaking him; no one can "compete" with him because he IS the "Yellow Man."
In business, there are many things you can do that make you a one of a kind and will keep competitors at bay. It could be a system or "process" that you've invented... it might be a catch phrase/slogan you have.... it could be a unique item that you wear... it could be how elaborate you celebrate a new client or customer... it could be how you sign your name or what type of ink you use (years ago, I wrote about a lawyer who would only
sign documents in purple. He became famous for that). And so on and so on...
Hopefully, I'm getting your creative juices flowing. There are an endless number of ways to distinguish yourself. Please take some time this weekend and map out a plan for differentiation.
It's absolutely essential.
Until next time...
And, remember, K.I.C. (Keep It Coptic).
