“Remember – if people talk behind your back, it only means you are two steps ahead.” – Fannie Flagg

This Sales Diva absolutely loves the above quote from Fannie Flagg! It happens every day doesn’t it?

In fact – it may even have happened to you at one point or another. You are working hard on your business, attracting customers, making sales…and then IT HAPPENS.

You see something in the paper that your competitor is doing….you hear an ad on the radio about them…or you lose a customer or prospect to the EVIL COMPETITOR and your stomach turns into knots.

You panic. You begin hyperventilating....all because of what some other business is doing. You frantically start thinking of how you can drop your prices, have a promotion, give away free cheese – anything to keep your competitor away!

Stay Away From Monkey Mind!

There is a phrase in Buddhism that refers to what happens when you allow distraction to take you over…

“A related metaphor is the allegory of a monkey stretching as far as he can to grab the reflection of the moon in water. He cannot understand that he is looking in the wrong place.“

I see many businesses jump into “monkey mind thinking” when they start worrying about their competitors.

Here’s some Sales Diva advice:

- Remember – unless your company is built upon having the cheapest prices – don’t worry about competitors charging less. There will always be SOMEONE playing that angle – do you really want to play in that arena?

- Be aware of what is happening with a competitor but don’t be a copy-cat.

- Be pro-active. Focus more on what your customer needs from you – if they don’t see the value in you – the first place they will go is PRICE.

- Complacency is YOUR BIGGEST COMPETITOR. Your customer can always choose to do….nothing and stay with the status quo. Have you ever done that?

- Chart your own course. Stay focused on your own goals, revenue objectives, marketing strategies. Survey your customers, treat them like gold – and they will remain loyal to you.

So the next time you feel a bad case of Monkey Mind coming on – take a deep breath and remember The Sales Diva words of wisdom.

Because worrying about the competition will only drive you bananas!

Copyright© 2005

Kim Duke, The Sales Diva, provides savvy, sassy sales training for women small biz owners and entrepreneurs. Kim works with clients internationally, showing them The Sales Diva secrets to success! Sign up for her saucy and smart FREE e-zine and receive her FREE Bonus Report “The 5 Biggest Sales Mistakes Women Make” at http://www.salesdivas.com

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