People like to talk. They like to pass on what they hear. Most of the time we just pass along sayings without knowing what we are talking about. I do it too. I have never been Bear Hunting but I use the phrase. "Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you". Another favorite is "don't under estimate the competition". We have all heard it, but most of us don't practice it. We feel secure in our own little world and just keep on skipping along oblivious to what could be waiting for us around the bend. We don't think before we make a huge mistake in taking our competition lightly.
For those out there that have never been in a real fight, one where the other person is determined to cause you great bodily harm or even death, it is hard to understand that just one small mistake can cause your downfall. In a fight, the worst thing you can do is under estimate your opponent. Make that one mistake that lets them get up close and they will hurt you. Even a butter Knife is a dangerous weapon if you let them get in close. Phrases don't mean nothing. Its deeds not words that win in the end. The worst thing you can do is say "oh that butter knife can't hurt me".
Now of course business is not mortal combat. No one is really gonna get physically hurt or killed.
But the analogy is correct. Don't under estimate your mistakes. Don't think that your position is better and therefore you are safe. Usually what you think is a small mistake is just the tip of the iceberg when all the facts come out.
The best thing is to always believe your competition knows something you don't. They are watching your every move. You can bet that Pepsi and Coke know everthing the other is doing before it even comes out. Watch Subway and Quizno's go back and forth at each other. Its a game that has been played for centuries and probably always will be as long as there is money to be made.
A great saying is "don't get mad get even", but that doesn't always work. It can end up costing both parties in the long run. The best thing to do is be aware what is going on around you because its your best chance to dodge a bullet, and some times even that doesn't work. Today's business world is fraught with dangers and mine fields. Watch were you step, because just one wrong step is all it takes.
In the long run, playing fair is the best thing to do. Karma is just a word, but it seems to always come back to haunt us. Here at MARS, we strive to compete without trying to destroy the competition. We really don't need to, because our products and services speak for themselves. We just like to get in the ring and let the best man win. We will continue to try and win the business wars, but we want to do it without cutting out the competition. After all, our competitors keep us sharp. We just want to keep them at a distance, because if we give them the chance to get in close, even a little bitty butter knife can be a fearsome weapon.