You only need to be 10% better to beat the competition

I've only had a few short term jobs for employers in my entire adult life, and most of them were while I was in college.  The rest of the time, I've worked for myself in businesses and jobs I created, and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

I have never had a guaranteed paycheck.  That might sound scary to some, but it is keeps me free.  I don't like the idea that I will get paid X amount of dollars on Friday.  What if I want twice that much?  What if it doesn't matter?  What if I really don't care how much my pay is as long as it covers everything I need to cover?  The amount of my income doesn't matter to me, and it never has.  It's a different mindset.  

Don't get me wrong.  Of course I like to get paid, and I like to get paid well.  But, my mindset toward my income might be a bit different than many.  I don't want anything or anyone to restrict how much money I can make, give away, save for my family or just simply leave in my company for expansion and growth. 

That brings me to my point.  In order for your income to be what you want it to be you only need to be 10% better than the competition.  My contracting company is a great test study.  We make a great effort to provide a great service every time.  We have clients who have waited for years for us to get to them.  That amazes me.

We spend a lot of time fixing other contractor's work.  As soon as we walk into location that needs that type of repair, our value goes up.  When those repairs are fixed quickly and professionally our stock value goes up again.  The previous company stock goes down and ours goes up and referrals flow.  I never get concerned when the competition grows, because I know I have enough buzz in my community that we'll always have work.  Why?  We're good at what we do.  No boast, just the way it is.

I don't have to say anything.  The results speak for themselves.  The same is true in real estate.  When you provide exceptional service, word gets around.  I work mostly as a buyer's broker.  A lot of the buyers I end up with come from other agents who failed to meet the clients expectations.  I get a few of those clients every month.  The first thing the new client says to me is, ". . . said I should call you because you can make things happen." 

That's right.  I make things happen.  Does that mean I'm a better agent than the other agent?  Maybe, maybe not, but what I do know is that I only need to be 10% better to increase my market share.  That means 10% in marketing, 10% in service, 10% in communication, 10% in listening, 10% in hand-holding, 10% in regional exposure, 10% in referrals, 10% networking, etc., etc., etc.  It's a simple principle that every agent can accomplish. 

You can accomplish that 10% by simple things like sending a post card of a sold property to the neighborhood it was sold in.  You can add 10% by having your local paper do an article on you and your company.  Offer the paper one of your blogs on market reports.  They love free articles.  Trust me on that one. 

You increase 10% by putting your name, picture and ideas on every social media outlet available and then invite everyone you know to "like, link or share" your information.  There are hundreds of ways to increase your market share, but you only need to be 10% better than the competition.