The Most Crowded Marketplace Of All

Posted by in Leadership, The Leadership Coach™

I have always pursued the ideal that if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.

As I’ve worked with leaders around the world, I have discovered that mindset is not only a more satisfying way to live but it’s also a hallmark of those who rise above their competition.

The most crowded marketplace of all is mediocrity.

Think of your own industry. How many leading companies or organisations are there that have clearly risen above the crowd? And by comparison, how many of the “mediocre masses” are there? The eagles have a different experience of this world than the pigeons.

So here are a few exits on the highway to mediocrity that you might consider if you long to escape the throng-

1. Do less.
Thin out how much you do… in order to do what you do with excellence. Hold three events not ten. Offer two services instead of seven. Creativity is as much about what you leave out as what you leave in. And often doing too many things is the enemy of doing the most important things with excellence. Often, but not always…

2. Do more.
At the risk of contradicting myself, sometimes the answer is to do more. Go beyond what others offer. Market research would have told Ford and Jobs that people just wanted faster horses and smaller phones. Instead they gave them something more, something they didn’t even know they needed until they experienced what “more” looked like in the automobile and the iPhone.

3. Do it differently.
There’s a wine shop in my neighbourhood that I like. They’re not the closest, the largest or the cheapest. But they do something their competitors don’t- they get out from behind the counter and talk about their wines. They make it fun and educational without making customers feel inferior. Remember that whether you’re selling a product or a service, you’re really selling an experience. So do it differently.

So if you’re ready for the air up there, scorn mediocrity and ask yourself, “How could we do less, do more or do it differently?”

I’d love to hear your comments and feel free to use the links below to share this article with others
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Paul Andrew is Founder of The Leadership Coach™
He is a Keynote Speaker and Management Consultant based in New York

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14 Responses to “The Most Crowded Marketplace Of All”

  1. Stuart Chadban

    27. Oct, 2011

    Great post Paul.
    Distilling excellence down to it’s raw form.
    Great reminder as my team and I start the day.

  2. John Drury

    27. Oct, 2011

    Thanks Paul,
    You have a nack for making it simple.
    The biggest challenge I have is your first point, doing less in terms of breadth of things and then doing more in terms of depth. You have motivated me to focus on what I must let go of in order to rise above the crowd.
    John Drury´s last [type] ..10 Questions Every Leader Needs To Ask!

  3. Craig Rains

    27. Oct, 2011

    Hey Paul! This was great!
    It is a good feeling to be empowered to improve. This gave me some simple and true steps to be further on my journey. I will spend some time reflecting on these insights.
    thanks!!

  4. Susan

    27. Oct, 2011

    “Remember that whether you’re selling a product or a service, you’re really selling an experience.”

    You’re absolutely right, Paul. I sell travel, and at the end of the day, what people remember is the whole experience – the photos, the happy memories, they way they felt using all of their senses. A sense of atmosphere.
    Susan´s last [type] ..How to develop your intuition and find your life purpose

  5. Paul Andrew

    27. Oct, 2011

    Thanks Stuart – have a day that counts then hey!

  6. Paul Andrew

    27. Oct, 2011

    I appreciate that John – and I think visionaries often struggle with the same thing – it’s like we are hardwired to think more = better!

  7. Paul Andrew

    27. Oct, 2011

    Hey Craig – I appreciate the feedback and it’s great to reconnect! Had a quick look at what you’re doing. Exciting days hey.

  8. Paul Andrew

    27. Oct, 2011

    You’re so right Susan – and if you’re NOT selling an experience in your market, then people might as well book online right? It’s the experience you give them that no website can replace!

  9. Claire Takacs

    28. Oct, 2011

    Hi Paul,

    Your post is timely. I read something in BRW recently about eliminating clutter and making things more simple. This started me thinking differently about things I want to do and then your post actually clarified it for me. Do more with the less, and do it differently

    Thank you very much.
    Claire Takacs´s last [type] ..Rainy days and dolphins

  10. diablo 3

    30. Oct, 2011

    Saved like a favourite, I truly like your website!

  11. Paul Andrew

    31. Oct, 2011

    Thanks Claire! Glad it helped. It’s amazing what a difference it makes just to eliminate the clutter!

  12. Gail

    01. Nov, 2011

    Well said – it’s better to do less and get it Right than do lots and do that Half Right.

    Few organisations can be all things to all people. We’re better to keep the main thing the main thing and let customers walk away who don’t want what we offer.

    As my history teacher used to drill into us “Keep It Simple Silly”.
    Gail´s last [type] ..October’s Top 7

  13. Grant Brookes

    21. Nov, 2011

    Loved your post Paul!! re-tweeted it and even posted on my Facebook wall!

    Apart from Do it more, Do it less & Do it differently.. i would suggest one more to it ‘Do it regularly’.. I guess in todays time it does matter a lot..
    Grant Brookes´s last [type] ..Web Design London

  14. Paul Andrew

    21. Nov, 2011

    Thanks for all the feedback everyone, and Grant I think Do It Regularly is a key too as long as you’re doing it well. Good thought!

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