Be You

Judy Garland famously said "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else,” and I love this advice, particularly in the business world.

While I think it’s healthy to keep tabs on your competition, your strategy shouldn’t be to simply emulate what they’re doing. Instead, you should focus on what you do best, your why, how you can help, how to create the ultimate customer experience, how to design your best product or service (and how to consistently deliver it), etc.

When you focus on your secret sauce, your customers and your employees take notice. Know who you are and why you’re in business, communicate it effectively, and deliver upon that promise, and success will follow. Easier said than done, but if you find your attention straying elsewhere, it’s good to come back to home base and direct yourself to this formula.

If sports metaphors are more your thing, consider this: when I was a competitive golfer, I was coached to play the course, not my competitor. You don’t necessarily know what the person six groups ahead or behind you is doing, so all you can do is your best with each and every shot. It’s similar in business: you may think your biggest competitor is XYZ company, so you doggedly chase them, only to find out ABC company has been quietly winning business with your target market. If you’d instead focused on your customers, employees, and product, perhaps you’d have a larger market share.

Personally, I love to help people achieve their dreams, and that’s why Kwedar PR exists. Within that larger why, I know my skills and talents that I can apply to my clients’ missions and visions, and together, we’re unstoppable. I’ll be me, you be you, and let’s go be amazing.