It 's out there right now. Lurking in the shadow of your success. Hidden where you least expect it, within the data of your good budget. And 'the silent killer that affects the business without notice, and that can bring down even the biggest and brightest companies. What am I talking about? Of complacency.
So, avoid having to say "if only". Avoid complacency, always. Avoid it is essential to any long-term business. And there are 4 ways to avoid it:
1. Be reasonably paranoid
You will always have competitors. There will always be someone who will find a better way of doing what you do. So, be reasonably paranoid. Do not lose sleep thinking that someone would come take away your customers and your market share. But also avoid not to think at all. Be reasonably paranoid will allow you to keep your business ahead of the competition: your focus should be to strive to always improve, because there is someone better than you.
2. Look in the mirror
When you're head is often difficult to see who is behind. But you still look at us. Who is your closest competitor? And that far 3 or 5 position? As you are moving, and what they plan to do? Do not obsess, basically you have to manage your business. But this does not mean you have to watch your back: if someone is coming too, and so you have time to react.
3. You can always do better
But if you wait forever to play remittance, there will be a time when you will not be able to do so. Therefore it is important to recognize that you can always do better. Nobody is perfect. A product can always be improved, as well as a service. If you arrive as to say that it is 100% perfect, it means that we have not worked enough. Be proud of what you offer your customers. But always looking to improve, to offer better service or cheaper. Strive to do better before it is a competitor to force you to do so.
4. Listen to new ideas
Think you know everything? Not so. All fall into the trap of complacency. Try to avoid soliciting new ideas to your colleagues and customers. They'll tell you what they like and, perhaps more importantly, what not to like. Because in the end if you're too busy to give yourself pats on the back, you may not be able to listen to the next good idea. That could come from someone other than you.
