This image was originally commissioned by Len Schlessinger when he was President of Babson College. Prior to that, he was Co-Chairman and COO of The Limited. Len is now a Baker Foundation Professor at HBS. His recent book, What Great Service Leaders Know and Do: Creating Breakthroughs in Service Firms, was the subject of a wonderful talk he gave for us in Miami last Spring.
Competition sucks. Competitors measure you, cook the numbers, and then spread their view of why you’ll be dead meat. You don’t have to let them do that.
Start by having a “Smarter Conversation“. Lead, don’t compete. If done correctly, you can occupy a space where you are, in fact, the only player. Go for the edges.
Why would you ever want to be the best, if you can be the only?
