Competition

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In any business, competition is a given. But our business culture today pushes for domination; crushing others to own the market on the constant quest for growth. The question is, how are we as Christians in business to engage and compete?

The way of the world is to focus on the competition. You analyze their every move; evaluate their abilities, celebrate their losses, and fear their gains. This way of operating guarantees worry and places you in a responsive mindset. You don’t act but react. Success is market share gained against the other.

The alternative I see is to obsessively focus on your customer, providing them with the best product or service you can, and continually improving it based on a tight feedback loop. In this mindset you are setting the course, not looking around anxiously but diligently pursuing a path of excellence. Success is a happy customer, which will lead to more.

This doesn’t mean you don’t want to know the competitive landscape and where you fit, however the business goal must be greater than solely owning a segment of the market.

As I look at some of the companies I respect for both what they do and how they run, I see the customer first mindset over and over again, and as I think about our calling as Christians, I can’t help but think that we need to be very aware of how we do competition.

My challenge to you (and to me) is to consider this week how you can model a different attitude toward competition in and through your business.

~ Sean