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  2. How do you keep yourself one (or several) steps ahead of...

How do you keep yourself one (or several) steps ahead of your competition?

Business Marketing with Nika
7 replies
And does it matter? ---------- It is a kind of "philosophical" question for me because whenever I compare myself to others, I feel less motivated to do something. We do not start at the same starting line and should try to improve from inner motivation + Generally, I think it is better to have competition and fill the gap that competition left "unfulfilled". But not "toxic" competition. But I may be wrong. What's your take?

Replies

Ben Syverson
Launching soon!
I'm at an SEO conference right now, and heard that there are over 45,000 digital marketing agencies in the US alone. With so many players offering essentially the same set of services, an economics textbook would tell us that this industry should be a race to the bottom on price, and everyone's margin should approach zero. Yet that is not what's happening; the industry is growing, and many companies are doing well. Many agency owners have told us that their competitive strategy is simply to focus on relationships and deliver great service—basically to do a good job. I guess with 45,000 competitors (more if you include international and solo operators), you can't worry about them all!
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Sergey Koshevoy
Planyway
Launching soon!
Engaging directly with our audience to understand their evolving needs, pain points, and preferences, and then tailoring the app is the best approach, I believe.
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Tymek Zapała
I try to beat the game with consistency. I don't have much time every day to work on my side projects, but I have understanding that I cannot say "I'll take a break today". I think the effect adds up over time and it's quite nice.
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Business Marketing with Nika
minimalist phone: creating folders
minimalist phone: creating folders
@tymzap Your approach is the right one. It is a good think to remain consistent (to add up some amount of work every day) and over time it grows. I keep my fingers crossed for your project and your discipline! :)
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TJ Larkin
Launching soon!
I've found that obsessing over competition often leads to copying rather than innovating. Instead of playing catch-up, I focus on deeply understanding my audience's problems and solving them in unique ways. When you nail that, you naturally stay ahead without the mental drain of constant comparison. What matters most is creating genuine value that makes a real difference for your people.
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Felix Sattler
Staying ahead of the competition is definitely important, but I’ve found that it’s all about balance. Competition can be a great motivator – it pushes teams to improve and innovate a little more every day. But at the same time, it’s crucial not to compare yourself too much with others, especially when you’ve found your USP and carved out your unique positioning. Every company is different, not just in terms of product but also in structure and resources. If you see another company excelling at something, it’s perfectly fine to aspire to reach that level. Just keep in mind that you might not have the same resources or circumstances, and trying to replicate their success exactly could shift your focus away from your own goals. The key is balancing “getting inspiration from competitors” with “executing your own plan.” Stay motivated by others, but don’t lose sight of your strategy. Focus on building momentum with what makes your approach unique, and keep delivering the best you can for your users.
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