What I learned early on is, you cannot work with multiple clients in the same city or location, if they see each other “as in the same industry.” They see each other as competition and it can start a war. Even if they are not the same, it does not matter, because they compete with each other and everyone can be targeted, even the marketing and promotions company. It is crazy out there for new companies and it is a painful learning curve. As I think back on the restaurants and bars we worked with, they probably could have seen each other as competition and we did not even realize it. We did not think about it, because we focused on their uniqueness and distinguishing characteristics.
The truth is, it does not matter how much enthusiasm you have, or how open-minded you are, or how much you realize people are unique and have their own identity, services, offerings and brands. You may be able to see the differences, but if your clients do not see the differences, it can be a painful learning process for you. We were the target of some angry competition and it was a terribly painful learning experience and lasted years (it’s still not gone), and it was right in the beginning of the creation of our company. But I saw it, and I learned quickly. Now when clients come to us and are similar to other clients in the same location, we ask questions and verify their feelings and how the view the comparison. We do not risk the same situation over again.
Being new and inexperienced can be painful, but without making mistakes and learning, you never get smarter and wiser, and you cannot confidently lead your clients into successful futures. We want to feel safe, and we want our clients to feel safe with us guiding the way. So we are thankful for the lessons and we don’t fail to learn from them.
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Photo of Athlete at Undisputed Fitness and Training Center
