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Competition? Bring It On? (Home Staging in Houston, TX)

By Kathy Strader

Home Stager with Memorial Staged Homes

April 25, 2011 01:17 PM

Memorial Staged Homes Formal Living Room Competition? Bring it On! (Home Staging in Houston, TX)

“A competitor will find a way to win. Competitors take bad breaks and use them to drive themselves just that much harder. Quitters take bad breaks and use them as reasons to give up. It's all a matter of pride.” Nancy Lopez

In my previous life as a human resources professional, which was before the current economic uncertainties, competition for talent was fierce. Occasionally, a star employee would resign and go to work for one of the company’s competitors. Without fail, someone in senior management would grumble about how the competitor STOLE our employee. Of course I knew that if the employee hadn’t found something in the competitor that they weren’t getting in the company, they never would have left.

Every now and again I will go head to head with another Stager and lose the job or I’ll learn that a home has been Staged, and be disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to bid on it. The Stager that did the job did not STEAL the job from me. That Stager offered something that I did not; even if it was as simple as being in the right place at the right time. Clients like employees are not stolen, they are won.

Recently, someone that I work with complained of competition, we were aware of, that was moving into town. My Tug of War response was, “So what?” Competition is a fact of life, and frankly it is a good thing because it makes me work harder. I’ve found that there is such a demand for Home Staging services that it often surprises me that there are not more Home Staging businesses popping up.

Although I keep an eye on the competition, rather than fear it, I’ve decided to embrace it. Competition will not allow me to get lazy. I have to continually improve and sharpen my skills. I must constantly ask myself, “Why should someone hire me?” “What sets me apart?” In short, I have to focus on me, and my business, and doing the very best job I possibly can.

I take great pride in the work I do and the services I provide. I truly enjoy my job. Every day there are so many new challenges and exciting opportunities. I’ll watch what others are doing, but I’ve got no time to worry about it.

Competition? Bring it on!

Joy