Competitive and Friendly can be synonymous.

I’ll tell you that I’m one of the most competitive people you’ll meet when it comes down to business. But, our winning isn’t about you losing. Instead, it’s about our ability to demonstrate why we’re the best fit for our clients business. In saying this, if we can’t win, I hope you will. Let’s face it, the industry is small and life is short.

I love when other entrepreneurs and colleagues are succeeding. I appreciate what they have achieved and what they have endured to develop their craft, win clients and build their agencies. Don’t get me wrong, I want to kick their ass in a pitch, but if we don’t win, I sincerely want them to win. In fact, we often receive rfp’s or opportunities that we have to turn down for a variety of reasons. We recommend other agencies for those clients. Equally, we’ve been recommended by our competition when the shoe was on the other foot.

Why am I writing about this topic? Recently, there have been lay-offs and some office closures. I hate seeing this, whether the agency is independent or part of a network. Great people can be found in every agency. Nice people can be found in every agency. Hard working people can be found in every agency. At the end of the day, every person in every agency is paying rent or their mortgage, worrying about their family and kids and, ultimately, wondering what they’ll do next. It’s a terrible position to be in and I’d hate to be facing that same position. At the end of the day we need to remember that friendliness, compassion, respect and empathy should always be immediately behind any competitive spirit. Our industry is at its’ best when we all want to win and we all win often enough to find ourselves fighting each other again over the next pitch. So, we intend to kick your ass, but if we can’t win, we hope you do.