Stay Out from Under the Bus

My painting company, M & E Painting, is in its high part of the season and we are keeping very busy right now. This time of year always reminds me of all the competition out there, and all of the competitors names that pop up when we are meeting with potential customers. Every time this happens, we have a choice to make. We can either make ourselves look better and sell ourselves, or throw the said competition under the bus.

Keep in mind that you can never seem good by making someone else look terrible. Make sure you have enough of positive things to say about yourself as an entrepreneur and business owner. Even if you are aware of their shortcomings, never resort to disparaging your rivals. One particular rival of ours isn’t really a top-notch painting business. I always respond, “The owner is such a great guy,” whenever someone asks me about them because he is the sweetest man on earth. I continue by sharing more fantastic things about my business.

The amusing thing about this other firm is that they frequently bash and trash us in an effort to win business, and yet, while they are trying to make us appear terrible, I am complimenting them, this actually wins us a ton of business.

So stay out from under the bus. If you are thrown under it by others, keep your cool and composure and remember that throwing somebody else under in retaliation, or to try and make yourself look better, never works. Remember, your competitors throwing you under the bus is done out of anger and fear because they have no idea how to compete with you. Take it as a compliment that you scare them so much that they feel they have to resort to that tactic. Remember how awesome you are and keep being that way!

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