Put On Your Competition Blinders in 2009
There are thousands of career-related Web sites out there, and my primary blog, Jobacle, is one of many. Every time I get reminded of that fact, I get a little dizzy, and then I look away. Because I know I can do it better. Or die trying.
The reality is many of these sites have more resources in terms of manpower and financing. But I can’t let that stop me from creating a product that I believe in.
That’s why I wear blinders 90% of the time.
I know that the shrewd MBA grads out there will remind me that monitoring and analyzing the competition is a key component to making your business a success. However I also believe there is something to be said for trying something different.
That’s why I don’t read your blogs, fellow career writers. And if you’re alos writing in an over-crowded niche, I recommend the same.
Sorry if the truth hurts. I hope you won’t unsubscribe. After all, I don’t think any good writer will hold reciprocity as a standard.
The Web is messy. Every now and then take a peek around, but stargazing is for people looking for an excuse not to write. It’s good to know who is writing in the same genre as you, and it’s nice to occasionally come around for inspiration, but i would not make monitoring part of your daily habits.
What say you?
I say, that’s what I do. It;s a better investment of my time reading up on how to be the best at what I do, rather than watching what competitors do. There’s only so much you can learn from that.
“The reality is many of these sites have more resources in terms of manpower and financing. But I can’t let that stop me from creating a product that I believe in.”
I couldn’t agree more!
I have my blinders on 95% of the time but I’ve resolved to lower that a bit to maybe 80%. I don’t want to be totally oblivious yet I cannot allow myself to be consumed with what others are doing.
I tend to wear blinders not so much because I am worried about comparing myself to “competition” but because it can be such a time magnet to spend time on related sites, kidding myself that it’s research when in fact it’s distracting me from my own content creation.