When I was in Grade 7, I ran in a 400m race. I was up against bigger, older and much faster girls. I still don’t know why my coach put me in that race, but there I was, fresh off of another heat from another race and ready to rumble. I knew my chances of coming in first were slim, but hey. I showed up.

Off we went and halfway through, I realized that no one was in front of me. Where were they??? I started looking behind me, trying to find them. I just couldn’t believe I was out front.

And I slowed down.

In that moment, my coach, who happened to be standing just past that mid-way point screamed with all her lungs, “If you look behind you, you’re going to lose! Don’t slow down! Face the finish line!”

She was right. My competitors were hot on my heels and if I continued to worry about them, they’d overtake me. So I put on the gas, and came in first. It is still, to this day, one of the most poignant memories of my childhood and a lesson I have never forgotten.

Success is a Mindset

But why am I telling you this? This is one of the most critical mistakes businesses make. They worry about what their competitors are doing so much, that they forget the value that they themselves have to offer.

They mentally destroy their businesses because they figure that “oh well, someone is already doing it,” or “There’s no way I can compete against them. They’re too big!” and on and on and on.

Let me lay this on the table and please, don’t forget it:

SUCCESS IS A STATE OF MIND.

It’s a mindset. It’s an attitude.

Why your competitors don’t really matter

Do you have something of value? Can you explain HOW what you offer is at least different from others that are in your field? I help my clients with this ALL the time, even the ones that hum and haw about how, “Everyone sells the same shit, I’m not different, the industry is commoditized, my competitors are too big,” blah blah blah.

If I took on that attitude I never would have started my business. A social media consultant and coach? Are you kidding me? There are HUGE personalities out there that are making HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS! And you, little you, want to take them on???? (that was my conscience speaking)

Yes. Yes, I do. And I have. And I will.

When you understand that success is about building value for your clients REGARDLESS of what anyone on the PLANET is doing, you’ll succeed.

Don’t look left. Don’t look right. And certainly don’t look behind you.

Instead, put on a t-shirt that says, “If you’re behind me, that means I’m winning,” and race off into the sunset.

Success is a mindset.

Rebecca