Experts say that most accidents that happen on the road are the result of driver negligence. It doesn’t take an expert to figure that out. After all, you’ve seen the usual suspects on the road. There’s “Mr. Cell Phone Texter” who’s eyes are on his phone instead of the road. There’s “Ms. Eye Shadow Applicator” who’s trying to finish that last dab of Purple Sunrise before she hits the brakes. With all of these offenders, the worst may be the good old-fashioned rubbernecker.
These are the drivers that slow down…way down…to see what everyone else is doing and what’s going on. In the process, they almost cause a wreck of their own. If there is one thing you could say to these people, it would be, “Keep your eyes on the road!”
The business world is full of these rubberneckers, too. What you do in your car is one thing, but in your business everything can fall apart if you start taking your eyes off the road. Here’s what I mean. In the past week, several Client Success Managers (CSMs) received similar calls that started with, “My competition is this and that.” While it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your competition from time to time, it should be in your rearview mirror as you zoom past them on your way to success.
Before you get too concerned with what your competitors are doing, pay attention to what you’re doing. Keep your eyes on the road.
When business owner Bob gets too caught up in what the competition is doing, here’s what happens. Bob starts paying more and more attention to the competition. Eventually, he stops doing what made him successful in the first place, and he starts mimicking the things he thinks the competition is doing to succeed. Unfortunately, what he doesn’t see is that the competition only looks successful. Behind the scenes, that competitor is probably struggling to pay the bills, attract clients, and keep his doors open. The worst part is that Bob won’t realize this until he’s in the same shape. If he’d only stuck to what was working in the first place, he’d be in the fast lane.
It’s all about balance. You should keep an eye on your competitors to see what they are up to, but don’t get stuck staring as they zoom past you.
To help you keep your eyes on the road, SGI™ has several suggestions:
A Daily Dose
The most obvious and powerful tool that you have at your disposal to keep your eyes on the road day in and day out is your Daily Management Essentials report. Your DME report keeps the most important numbers you need to watch in front of you each day. Think of it as your dashboard that gives you the readings you need to keep your team humming along.
External Support
If you start getting off track, remember that you have your CSMs waiting for your phone call. There’s nothing more they want to do than talk about your business, assist you in solving any challenges, and help you become successful. Don’t forget this important resource! It’s also important to remember your fellow members — those people you’ve met at Expo and have become friends. If things seem to be stagnating or you’re struggling with an issue, reach out to them. It’s one of the great benefits of being a part of this group. They may have experienced your same issue and have the exact way it should be handled.
The Breakdown
Remember that your time as a manager should break down – 33 percent recruiting the best, 33 percent training your team, 11 percent supervising their efforts, 11 percent motivating your team, and 11 percent administrating the proper paperwork. You’ll notice that the equation doesn’t include watching the competition. If you spend your time in this manner, you’ll succeed.
In the end, remember that competition is like death and taxes. It’s always there. Just expect it to be there and don’t waste your productive time worrying about it. You only have the same 24 hours a day that the competition does. Make the most of them! Don’t get caught rubbernecking on the road to success.