Collusion is Great?

I often hear business people gushing about their competition; “Frank is a great guy. I stay away from his clients and he stands clear of mine.” Or, “John won’t undercut our pricing, he doesn’t want to drive the market down. What a great guy. We are on the same page”. Even more perplexing, often at job walks I will overhear competitors comparing pricing; “What was yourprice at East 4^th? We went in at 35 points”.

Funny that the guys doing all the talking or colluding are usually the guys on the loosing end.

The goal of business is simple: deliver a superior product or service at a better price than your competition. That’s right: if you want market share, you need to beat your competitors.

I fail to see how sharing intelligence gives you the upper hand. It takes years to build a brand and establish a true competitive advantage. In realty, the only advantage most entrepreneurs have over the next guy is the grey matter between their ears.

If you can deliver at a better price than the next guy, congratulations, you have won. Keep your secrets to yourself!

Business is a game of “high stakes” poker. In poker and business you need to out-smart and out-work the other guy in order to win. Discussing strategy with other players or competitors is loose and risky. You may be thinking that you can lead you competitors astray with a bluff; Sorry, eventually your bluff will be called.

When you sit down to the table keep you mouth shut and hold your cards high, or you will be knocked out of the game.

True Patriot Love

It started off with an ambitious relay across our great country and ended with a gold medal that will be cherished for generations.

Along the way we witnessed unspeakable tragedy on the Luge track and eloquent humanity during the opening ceremonies. Collectively, we held our breath when Joannie Rochette skated and triumphed under the most adverse conditions.

We watched, with jaws dropped, as Shaun White took our breath away on the half pipe and cheered wildly when Petra Majdic tenaciously skied to a bronze medal in Whistler. Canada’s athletes struck gold on home soil for the first time and then punctuated Bilodeau’s achievement with a record breaking thirteen additionally gold medals.

What a performance!

We high fived strangers on the street, hugged, hooted and hollered. “Oh Canada” poured out on every street corner like beer at Canada Hockey House. Yes, there were some glitches but, who cares! VANOC, its Volunteers and the city of Vancouver laid down a golden performance. The legacies are many: Canada Line, highways, stadiums, word class sporting facilities and Own the Podium.

But, more lasting than any is the feeling that Canada can “clutch up” on the world’s stage. I believe our country and our people have changed. Canadians are more united, more determined and more proud than before these games. This was a seminal moment for Canada.

I am so proud to be a Canadian. Go Canada Go!