I was reading an article at World Wide Salon Marketing this morning and was inspired to post about the  article.

I read the newsletter and check out the website regularly even though I don’t have any salon clients that can use their program at the moment because I have always felt that their methods make sense and jive with everything I have learned about marketing.

There are two lessons in this.

One, don’t be afraid of examining marketing in other businesses and industries. You will likely find fresher ideas that you can adapt than you will find when sticking within your industry. People tend to stick with what they know and what has always been done. There tends to be more copy-catting than innovation when you only network and study within your own niche.

The second message comes from the article itself and boils down to this:

When you are doing what you do best with integrity as you focus on growing your business, the competition ceases to matter.

Even if they are playing games that are underhanded (as the competing salon in the article did), your c0mmitment to service and value will win the hearts and minds of your prospective clients.

I’ve seen many businesses worry and fret about what the competition is doing, when that time would be much better spent finding better ways to attract and retain customers.

Worrying leads to ulcers, not success.

Worrying can also leave you in doubt and put fears in your mind so that you hesitate to move forward or do something different. It inhibits growth and innovation.

I know, I have experienced this sort of paralysis in my own life and business. It becomes impossible to take massive action to move forward when you are keeping one eye and part of your mind focused on things you have no control over.

It’s been a hard lesson to learn, and one I still struggle with (because in an effort to be the best it is awfully hard not to start up with comparisons) so this article was a pointed reminder to keep my eyes on my goals and stop getting wrapped up in the politics of competition.

So what do you think? I’d love to read your thoughts and comments!

Is there karma in business?

Do you agree that nice guys finish on top?

Should you always ignore what the competition is doing or is there a time when you should be paying attention?