Homo sapiens can get extremely fixated on their size. While we would love to see our company become an intercontinental, ocean-spanning leader in the world of towers-in-the-cloud, we are afraid of being on such a large scale; this dynamic is taught to sports teams representing their country at international contests. They learn The psychology behind big-match temperament.
Let’s get started on your journey to become a big match and eventually own your industry by conquering the most difficult size parameters.
Paramount Pictures claims that our potential target markets include Vulcans and Klingons. If we can convince them to stop their psychotic desire to assimilate the whole species, then the Borg will be one day. Our market is still limited until then. This spinning blue marble with its seven billion inhabitants is the market. That’s it. This is as big as it gets.
Find a great picture of the earth from space as you work to improve your big-match temperament. You will be looking at this picture a lot, so choose a stunning shot that appeals to your senses. Print it, put it on your wall, and write My Target Market.
Why? There are two main reasons why this interior-decorating adventure is so popular. It gets you to think big, beyond your locality, province, or country. It electrifies the bit of your brain that handles possibility-thinking, nudging it toward entertaining the bold prospect of world domination. Your subconscious mind will begin to tickle at the details of achieving it by looking at the attractive shapes of continents.
The second reason is exactly the opposite of the previous. The second reason is that you can look at the whole world as one small, round, finite object. This helps to reduce the fear associated with its size. It’s easy to see: The world is all I have to worry about. It doesn’t get any larger than that.
Let’s take it a step further. You are not competing with 7 billion other companies in your attempt to control your industry. No, not by any stretch.
This article is your first step. This feat would be impossible for one in five people. You will be among a small group of people if you exclude children, people who are too old to work, and those with restrictive cultures. How many people are involved in your industry?
Let’s go on: How many people in your industry are proactive enough for education and insight? To be a leader; to rise to the top, rather than just doing enough to survive?
You are now reading this article because you have already managed to get into a small group. You may find yourself competing against several hundred people, at most, a few thousand.
AND IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT WHO IS THE BEST
Are you required to be technically proficient to “own” your industry? Surprisingly, the answer is no.
Think about the number of people who know how to cook to some degree. This number must be in the millions. However, is it possible that Gordon Ramsay, Nigella Lawson, and Jamie Oliver are the greatest cooks in the entire world? It is highly unlikely.
Technical proficiency is an important skill, but it does not guarantee the dominance of an industry. There are many people who are more skilled than the ones mentioned above and earn less.
This shows that something else is at work, and it’s called “positioning.” To become household icons in the industry, top industry figures use a combination of publicity, personality, and widespread presence.
The best products do not always become the most popular. Sometimes, the presence of publicity and a good product can increase sales. This was the case with the VHS Beta Battle of the 1970s and 1980s. The market ultimately went to the essentially “worst” product.
SOMETIMES, A ONE-KEY VARIABLE IS ALL THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
It can be frustrating, but it is what entrepreneurs do. His work is flawless, his standards are unimpeachable, and his industry knowledge unsurpassed. He is a successful man to an extent.
However, his competition is the one that Google searches for the most and thus dominates the industry.
Sometimes, one variable is all that matters. One prime example is the Oprah factor. It launched many a multi-national career.
What conclusions can we draw? First, the world isn’t as large as we think. You will be competing against key players, perhaps hundreds or even thousands.
Second, if your goal is to be at the top in an industry and you are willing to work hard to achieve that goal, you will already be well ahead of many others who do not have such a desire. This is an encouraging thought.
Third, you don’t need to be intimidated or put off by highly-skilled practitioners. Technical proficiency is important but not the deciding factor. Sometimes, more than just your position and prominence, visibility can be a key factor in your success.
Homo sapiens can get too focused on their size. We are easily overwhelmed by competition and easily seduced by the apparent enormity of an industry.
There are also those who aren’t. Others are more focused on the task at hand and don’t care about the outcome. They simply search for the lever and activate it.
Are you able to take on the industry with a big-game attitude? If you have the right mindset to start your campaign, you will be well ahead of your competition.