Nothing But..... BUSINESS - Katie Bulmer-Cooke

Traditionally, in business, when it comes to competition, we have always been told to do one of two things. Number one, observe the competition and do as they do but do it cheaper or number two, do as they do but do it slightly better. My opinion has always been different…observe the competition and then do they complete opposite.

I’ve always enjoyed being at the opposite end of the scale to my competitors, doing my own thing and not stressing over price wars and vying for the same customers. Being in my own bubble has always been my favourite place to be, and a place I felt comfortable, away from the battle.

But in 2014 things changed, as I stepped out of my comfort zone and stood amongst my fellow candidates on The Apprentice 2014. This was new territory for me, working alongside and even living with my competition. My bubble was gone and very quickly I had to develop a new strategy.

Photo Credit: The Telegraph

My chosen strategy consisted of 3 key elements:

Number 1…

Stay true to myself, act how I’d usually act and be true to my core values. In business this is the equivalent to selecting your core values, defining your vision and mission and following your business plan every step of the way!

Number 2…

Speak when you need to, have a clear message and don’t just make noise. There were a LOT of big characters in The Apprentice and a lot of people who liked to speak for speaking sake (some really liked the sound of their own voice too!), so it was vital for me to make myself heard, concisely, with a strong contribution, when it was required if I were to be different. The same is needed when it comes to marketing and promoting your business. Yes, you can send out a million emails, post thousands of tweets and run a ton of Facebook ads but if there is no theme or strong message that can be identified with then it all simply becomes white noise to the potential customer.

Number 3…

I had to have self belief! No one else was going to believe in me, no one else was going to create opportunities for me to achieve and succeed. I had to believe in myself enough to put myself in the frame to become project manager, to make my idea the one the team ran with or to have confidence to fight my corner in the boardroom. Similarly in business, no one else can make your venture a success for you, and customers won’t come knocking your door down if you haven’t put yourself out there and told them you exist! You have to be pro-active and remove all limiting beliefs!

Whether it’s Lord Sugar’s boardroom, your local area or online, opportunities are everywhere and they are yours for the taking no matter how many competitors you feel you have around you.