The Value of the Slight Edge

Remember the old joke about two camping buddies being scared out of their tent by a rummaging grizzly? One scrambles to exit while the other stops to put on his running shoes. “What are you doing putting on those shoes? You’ll never outrun a grizzly.” Response: “I don’t need to outrun the bear, I just need to outrun you!” I believe the same strategy applies to competing in business. You don’t have to be the world’s best – you just need a slight edge over the competition. So, as you compare your offerings to that of the competition, resist the temptation to stretch the truth. Exaggerating insults your customers’ intelligence. Better to have a slight edge that wins all the business than to make an exaggerated claim that loses all your credibility.