Thoroughbred horses are known for their speed and agility. They are bred to race, they are very competitive, and they want to win! When a thoroughbred horse is racing, it never looks over at the other horses. It’s focused on running the fastest race it can while staying in its own lane.
As business owners, we can learn a lot from why thoroughbred horses don’t look at their competition. First, it’s distracting. The horse knows they will lose focus and slow down. Second, looking at the other horses can be intimidating. If the horse sees the other horse has moved ahead, they risk becoming discouraged and giving up.
Third, and possibly the most important, looking at the other horses in the race can be dangerous. If the horse is focused on another horse, it may not see the hazards that lie ahead and an trip, fall and fail to finish. Likewise, as business owners, if we focus on the other detailer down the street, we take our eye off the goal and can trip and fall on the way to our own success.
It’s possible to teach a thoroughbred horse to not look at other horses. With patience and discipline, it’s also possible for you to ignore the other guy and just focus on you and your business. Andy Frisella said it best…
“If you really want to be extraordinary, remember this… It’s always YOU vs YOU.”
