Imitation is the highest form of flattery

In today's small business community, it takes a lot of courage, vision and faith to do things "out of the norm".

It is so easy to stay in your comfort zone, surrounding yourself with customers and employees that agree with everything you do.

The problem is, if your not growing, then your dying.

So to grow, you muster up the courage to try that new new product, go with a different distributor, change the recipe or entirely change how your customers see your company.

This decision not only takes courage, it also involves risk, time and money commitments and the potential for failure.

But you do it anyway.

And then, a few weeks or months later, you see your competitor doing exactly the same thing.

Maybe its a sad attempt to emulate what you've done or maybe its a better version.

My question to you is...."How does it make you feel, when a competitor of yours "copies" an idea or a product that you went out on a limb to create or deliver?"

I suggest that you not get upset, feel betrayed or angry.

What if no other car company had adopted the assembly line?

What if no other retailer had decided to increase CFL buld sales by 3000% in 1 year?

What if.....?

What if.....?

What if.....?

Your a leader. A trend setter. On the edge of the wave of your industry.

Don't fret when others copy you.

Just make sure your feathers are perfect, because everyone is watching the leader.