Hatched Consulting

I once read an article in ‘Inc. Magazine‘ and found myself pretty ferociously furrowing my brow over the title: “How to Spy on Your Rivals.”

I am fully aware that this is a common practice and that this is not the first piece written on the subject.

However, I immediately thought, “what could you possibly gain from this that won’t actually and eventually start to bring you down?”

Will it give you insight to how your competitors are hooking new customers? Maybe.

Will it help you understand your competitors’ business model? Maybe.

Will you get new ideas from this? Maybe.

… BUT WHY RISK YOUR AUTHENTICITY??

In my opinion, spying on your competitors will make you stagnant.

Now you’ve gotten yourself into a predicament where you are running someone else’s business and ideas rather than your own. You’ve instantly negated the reason you started your business.

Don’t be another person/business doing the same thing in a *slightly* different way. Instead, look outward to your community:

What are your most asked questions when you get calls? Do that.

What are you getting calls about that you can’t help with and don’t have a referral for? Start that.

What are the services that your customers mention over and over? Perfect that.

Being in business is not about copying someone else’s vision, it is about perfecting yours.

When you do that, when you meet the needs and asks of your community, you have a real purpose, a real use in your community, a use that they will keep coming back for over and over, creating a demand for YOUR service/ business/ product.

So, for me… Should you spy on your rivals? Absolutely not… not at least until you are 100% ready to take it with a grain of salt and leave all the information where you found it and not get it entangled with your vision.

It may seem like it has its perks, and it is ever-so-tempting to do, but all you will accomplish is derailing your own authenticity and ideas and jade your own creative process.

As a business consultant and idea coach, I live, breathe and sleep small business.

Reach out and let me support and make things a little easier for you. ✨

✨ Humans were never supposed to be this connected. Hear me out.

✨ Humans are meant to be connected in a real way- with friends, families, neighbors... maybe your doctor or the owner of the corner store... and that's about it.

✨ We were never meant to be inside the homes and minds of thousands of people and know so much about so many other people... especially when it is just their highlight reels we are being exposed to.

✨ You aren’t behind.

✨ You aren't less than.

Let this be your gentle reminder to keep your circle tight with those that matter and light you up.

This is something I preach about in my business consulting- the art of "in person" is not dead, not even close. Shake a new hand today- a real one- not a virtual wave.

If you'd like to chat about what lights you up, I am all ears! ✨