What game are you playing with your business…
Chess or Poker?
One might think that the idea of “playing games” with your business is a poor way to think about or work at growing your business.
However a brief review of game theory will prove instructive.
Trust me on this one.
And when it comes to figuring out your competition and getting into the mindset of your customers, then having a better idea which game you ARE playing will help you determine which strategy or strategies are right for you at the starting point.
Does that make sense?
Okay, here we go…
The Poker Mentality and Your Business
It’s often a gamble as to where you land in the beginning and many business owners feel that they have to work with the hand that is dealt them.
This is more apropos than you might think.
While you are waiting to be dealt into the game, you first have to ante up and post your chips. To play the game you have to give up something of value, namely money.
When you get right down to it, you have basically paid for the privilege of playing the hand… and nothing more.
Basically, you have paid for nothing in the hopes for a bigger payoff, of making it back or better to get a return on your investment.
And if the hand you are working with doesn’t work out too well, simply fold and wait for another hand.
Sadly, this type of mentality works against you on many levels.
For instance, the hallmarks of this approach are:
- instant gratification
- immediate results
- lack of patience
- failure to plan strategically
The focus on a single JACKPOT from playing on hand illustrates just how short-term this thinking can be.
What’s worse, if you are playing against card sharks who know all the tricks beforehand and have marked you as an easy take. Unfortunately for you, this is precisely how the world of internet marketing world is.
And if you play the game by another person’s rules (i.e. a so-called SEO expert) you are going to get wiped out before you know it.
And so is your business marketing.
Chess, Strategic Thinking and Your “End Game”
Ok, let’s take a look at chess.
This game was created as a way to think strategically and to work out your opponents strengths and weaknesses without having to directly fight him or her.
It is also a way to test your strengths and weaknesses without having your butt kicked to prove it.
So how does this relate to your business?
In business the “players” and “game board” are:
- you
- your competition (opponent)
- potential customers, and
- the market itself (game board).
Now if you aren’t the sole creator of a product or process chances are that you aren’t the only one doing what you do, not to mention there are others doing what you do in your area.
What you need to do is to play a little chess.
- First see where your opponents are and how big of an area they have influence over.
- Next find out how they are reaching customers through different marketing means.
- Now see where your strengths and weaknesses lie within the gathered information.
If you come up with “I do that too” for most of the comparables you need to think about how to differentiate or to exceed your competitor’s capabilities.
If you can’t find or think of any your business is going to have a VERY tough time making the bills let alone making a profit.
So what about the “end game?”
In chess the goal is dominate the game board with your pieces, with the end result that your opponent surrenders.
Remember, “check mate” simply means that there is no more room left for your opponent to maneuver.
In business it is no different.
So What is Your Next Move?
The internet is a different type of “game board” from the examples posted above.
You can imagine it like a three-dimensional chess board for those who may remember the classic Star Trek episodes.
In many ways you have to find, test, measure and retry many different strategies and feedback just to carve our your place on the board.
Now the challenge is how long you can keep on the board (or the net) in order to make money.
Marketing and Strategy are one and the same thing…
By that I mean that one needs the other to be truly effective.
Like a car and its tires. A car with no tires doesn’t go anywhere even if it runs. As for the tires, they roll but can’t move anything of reasonable value unless attached to a car.
Your business website and web presence is in much the same relationship. One cannot and does not perform without this connection.
Nor does it give back what you put into it.
If you want to know how to get results for yourself, you ultimately have 3 move you can make:
- Do it yourself
- Have us do it for you
- Have us coach you to become successful
So what does that mean for you?
Increasingly we are cutting back on coaching because we only choose to work with 1%ers. If you believe that this describes you, then to get started…
Register for a Complimentary Coaching Call Today.
After the call we will determine together which of the three options best applies to your situation.
Or you can do nothing.
Either way, it’s up to you.
