Community

Location: The Grand River Trail entrance from Riverbend Drive, Kitchener

Description: One reed centred in the foreground with a multitude behind it.

Story: Excerpt from the rough copy of "End Down, Start Up: The Parabolic Arc of Business", Chapter 4:

If, through some feat of foresight and luck you've managed to find a marketplace with high demand and no competition, then feel free to skip this chapter until that changes. For the rest of us, this chapter is essential because we have competition. This is actually a good thing, because it means you can learn from others around you and emulate what you know is successful, allowing you to bypass a lot of mistakes others have made.

Talk with leaders in the industry and know where your competition lies. You can't do everything, so see who is doing something different enough that you don't directly compete, and make them an ally. Customers will try something you've done or ask "Is this product right for me?" and the answer won't always be yes. Instead of lying to them, it's better to be honest and pass them on to another company, and the other company will also pass business back to you. You need not be alone, for where you find competitors you can make allies.