Business isn’t as complex as we often make it. Big companies pay millions to external consultants, MBA students spend two years studying every part of business, big companies generate hundred page annual plans, and countless books are written each year on what you actually need to do to make more money in business.
Well, I earned my MBA, I’ve written an annual plan for a billion dollar brand, and I’ve been a consultant. During my career in big business, what I’ve really learned is that much of business can be simplified into one short statement:
Be different from competition in a way customers value.
This applies to any business that exists to make money. Whether you’re a huge brand, an early-stage start-up, a product maker, or a service provider this applies to you. With all the work it takes to run a business, it’s easy to forget that this is the simple foundation of why your business exists. This is how successful businesses get big and stay big. They continually refine their understanding of what their customers value, and deliver it in a way that stands out from competition.
Simple, right?
Positioning your business distinctly from your competitors may seem obvious, but it’s amazing how many companies, even large ones, fail to do it. Continue reading →
