Competition and Fear

I recently wrote two entries that I believe should be apply to anything you start, be it a blog, a normal website, a business or even just a book. Using Your Competition As A Means To Growth and Fear Is A Good Thing describes many of the principles and philosophy that I am starting to use today for my own business. I think too often we shy away from both fear and competition and that hurts us in the end.

If you can’t handle either one then you will find it tough to be successful at anything. When Darren interviewed Manolo many people though it was genius of him to hit a niche where there is no competition. On the contrary I think he did an excellent job of finding a niche, fashion, and improving upon it. He just has to do shoes better than any fashion blog out there, not just any shoe blog and if he does that he will continue to see success.

You can’t expect your readers to stay around forever if another blog comes out that is better. Many people may subscribe to both Gizmodo and Engdaget, but I guarantee over time most people just pick one over the other because they have decided one is better.

I have a healthy fear of new blog networks starting everyday and that’s why I continuously try to improve on the quality that both Fine Fools and 9rules presents. I like being pushed to make our product better and that’s why you see me so often “throwing potshots” at other networks and bloggers. I want to see better products all around because I know this will only make us stronger in the end.

If memory serves me correctly I was making 5 digits a month on a personal basis before Darren, but I grew complacent while he continued to push on. I am glad he took the higher road because that has given me a path to follow and I have certainly learned from my mistakes. I won’t let fear paralyze me and I won’t complacency win me over again.