The Power of Competition

I want to share a perspective that might seem surprising, especially coming from someone who always sees the glass as half full.
It's about the transformative power of competition, a lesson I learned from my mentor in 2016: "If you are going to be in competition with anyone, you want it to be them." This advice changed my outlook and helped me understand how competition can be a force for good.

Opening and running a successful business comes with its share of challenges, some of which no one talks about.
One such challenge is when friends become your competition.
It's a situation that can lead to hurt and disappointment due to actions taken and conversations that never happened.

In my experience, I've been cast as the villain in others' narratives not once, but twice, allowing them to feel justified in opening a competing business.
I've been fed lies, like "I am going to work at the YMCA, and I want us to see each other at Publix and remain friends," while in reality, they were plotting to take my clients and tarnish my reputation.

Despite the pain, there's a silver lining.
These experiences have made me—and my business—stronger. Competition has driven me to improve, innovate, and push forward. It's a powerful motivator that, when harnessed correctly, can propel your business to new heights.

I've lived through this twice, and if you're ever in need of a listening ear or want to share your own stories of turning competition into an advantage, I'm all ears. Let's grab coffee.