The Best Lessons Often Come From Outside Your Industry

The Best Lessons Often Come From Outside Your Industry

The Best Lessons Often Come From Outside Your Industry

There is a tendency to believe that to succeed, we must constantly watch the competition, study what they do, and perhaps even imitate them to get where they are. I tend to disagree.

Yes, we must be aware of what competitors are doing. Years ago, I recall David Plouffe, former Campaign Manager of Barack Obama, saying something along the lines of: “Be aware of what your competitors are doing, but don’t be guided by them.” That stayed with me.

Being in the hospitality business, when I travel, I do not intentionally spend my time learning from other hotels and resorts. Instead, I observe other industries — healthcare, banking, aviation, even the civil service systems of modern governments. There is so much to learn when one knows what to look for.

The same applies to competition. We cannot control what others are doing, nor should we spend too much energy chasing them. The more important question is: what can we do better with what we already have?

One question I constantly ask is:
“What more can we do so our guests leave feeling appreciated, valued, and delighted?”

True progress comes when organizations focus inward — improving culture, systems, service, and people — instead of obsessing over what others are doing.

Be aware of the world around you, but do not become distracted by it. Focus on doing your work exceptionally well with the resources and talent you already possess. The rest will follow