Love Your Competition: How to Stand Out Without Tearing Others Down

In our industry—and many others—we're told we need to compete to survive.  We've been raised on stories of rivalries, winners and losers, and the idea that business is a dog-eat-dog world.  Whether it's the ugliest dog contest or the crying baby showdown, humans love a good competition.  But what if I told you the most powerful strategy isn't to beat your competition, it's to love them?

Sounds counterintuitive, right?  But when I stepped back from the idea of "competing," I began to see something radically different—and better—not just for my business, but for the clients I serve.

Why Competition Isn't Always Healthy

Let's talk about what happens when you make competition your business strategy.  You tend to look sideways instead of forward.  You match other providers' pricing, mirror their services, and try to edge them out by being slightly better—or marginally cheaper.

The result?  Clustering.

Everyone looks the same, offers the same, and charges the same.  And when that happens, what's left to compete on?

Price.  Just price.

And the minute price becomes the only deciding factor, everyone loses.  You commoditize your work.  It becomes about who's cheapest, not who's most valuable.  That's a race to the bottom, and no one wins except maybe the bargain-hunting customer who isn't looking for excellence—just affordability.

The Cautionary Tale of Nokia

Remember the Nokia 3310?  That brick of a phone that was practically indestructible?  It was easy to use, affordable, and beloved by millions.  Then came the iPhone.  It was everything Nokia wasn't: fragile, sleek, expensive, elite.

Nokia panicked.  Instead of leaning into what made them great—their ruggedness, simplicity, and accessibility—they tried to become Apple.  And they failed.

Why?  Because they were reacting instead of responding.  They saw competition and rushed to match it rather than differentiate from it.

Apple wasn't better than Nokia.  It was different.  And in that difference was value.

The Power of Refusing to Compete

So what happens when you stop trying to beat everyone else?

You begin to stand out.

You "de-cluster." You provide something the public doesn't already have.  You shift the conversation from "price" to "value."

And this is where true business growth lives, not in owning the whole pie—but in claiming your slice and making it uniquely yours.

Let's go back to Apple.  Currently, the iPhone holds just 19% of the total phone market share.  That's not even close to half.  But guess what?  That 19% accounts for nearly 85% of total smartphone profits.  Apple didn't compete for every customer.  It was built for a specific audience and created an experience so compelling that those customers became fiercely loyal.

That's the power of focusing on quality, value, and experience.  The money takes care of itself when you take care of your lane.

Business as an Ecosystem

We can also rethink our role in the business world.  Instead of imagining business as a battlefield, try seeing it as an ecosystem.  In nature, species coexist, sometimes in direct proximity, each serving a role that strengthens the whole.

Your competitor doesn't have to be your enemy.  They might be your counterpoint.

Think about all the UPS and private shipping stores that have notaries available.  You might think of them as competition, but frankly, they serve those signers who do not need your mobile service.  And could be a great referral source for your callers.  By helping them get the type of service they need, you are solving their need, and they will remember that when they require a notary to come to them.  And what about the shipping store?  Be sure to share with them your plan to send callers who do not need mobile notary service to them, tell your callers to tell the store that (insert your name) sent them!  They will have the opportunity to reciprocate when they get a caller who needs hospital or jail service and they cannot send a notary there.  I personally have two stores I refer callers to, and it did take time before they each started referring back to me, but they did!  And now both carry my "Beyond Loan Signings book for sale in their store.

Now, let's talk about other mobile notaries in your area.  How can you create a stronger service?  By sharing your common audience.  Is another mobile notary bilingual and can serve those clients when you cannot?  Is another mobile notary approved to go into jails?  Perhaps another notary offers fingerprinting services.  Could they be someone to vent to when a job goes awry?  Is there an opportunity to refer a job to the other notary because you are not available?  And they would have the same issues and opportunities to share with you.

Your competitors offer clarity.  If someone wants what they offer, great!  That frees you up to focus on those who need what you uniquely bring to the table.

Fit Over Fight

We often misinterpret "survival of the fittest" to mean the strongest, fastest, or most aggressive will win.  But the original idea was about _fit_—the organism that best adapts to its environment survives.

So ask yourself: Are you fighting to dominate a system that isn't working for you?  Or are you designing a business that fits who you are and how you want to serve?

When you embrace your role in the ecosystem—your unique blend of personality, process, pricing, and passion—you allow others to do the same.  Collaboration replaces competition.  You become more resilient, more authentic, and more profitable.

Final Thought

Loving your competition doesn't mean you don't care about success.  It means you understand that your true edge isn't in being "better than"—it's in being true to what you do best.

When you stop copying and start differentiating, you stop chasing and start attracting.  And when that happens, your business becomes magnetic.

So the next time you meet a "competitor," say thank you.  They just made it easier for you to define your value.

At Your Service,

Laura