At an economic level, most breweries are competing with one another. Bars and bottle shops, too. They’re competing with grocery stores and online beer delivery services as well.
But that’s about finances; which most breweries don’t look outward when evaluating.
Instead they look inward: Can we support ourselves? Can we keep delivering remarkable beer to guests? Can we do right by our beer and good by our people? Others don’t matter when you’re competing with yourself.
Alas, it’s the lack of competition that I’ve always valued about the beer industry. There’s mutual respect for one another and a general understanding that if there’s not enough shelf space for everyone…build more shelf space.
Seth Godin has written about this same observation with authors. Instead of hating on each other; they purchase each other’s work, offer each other their resources and blurb each other’s books.
Certainly there are other industries to be in that work similar to beer and books. If you’re not happy with the industry you’re in, it might be worth seeking one out.
Not only do you get to do more meaningful work when you’re not competing; you get to feel different tensions and challenges (not easier, just different).
Otherwise, total respect for fighting the good fight of trying to shift an industry that’s based on competition. Put your company’s window next to that company’s door; pair that brand’s shoes with that brand’s shorts.
What’s important is that we don’t stand still in an industry; we don’t let competition force us to comply.
And, in case it’s worth mentioning: this same philosophy applies when you’re looking at what school to attend, what neighborhood to live in, which nonprofit to volunteer at, which street to open a business in, and which online group to contribute to.
Ironically, competition isn’t the path to winning.
Stay Positive & All Ships Rise With The Tide
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