This article is dedicated to all the paranoid businesspeople out there who are terrified of their competitors. You know, the people who run businesses centered around “consulting” who view any other “consulting” firm as a competitor. You can insert whatever industry you like in the quotes, and this perspective will apply.

Knock it off—you’re limiting your business and isolating yourself from opportunities to grow. You’re effectively placing yourself on a deserted island in an ocean of business opportunities.

Not only are you limiting opportunities, you’re building a brand of naivete, immaturity, and narrow thinking. The following also applies whether you’re a one-person shop or a multimillion-dollar firm. Unless you’re Coke and Pepsi, or some other similar, truly competitive pairing of companies, you need to pay attention.

Those of you who know me know that I network. A lot. That networking gets me in front of many other business owners and executives who play in a space similar to my firm.

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