Fireflash

" Keep your friends close and keep your enemies closer."

Humbug...

9505

I was going to buy something from a store about 10 meters from my shop when I noticed that the store owner was putting up some equipment. The thing that shocked me is that their equipment is almost identical to mine. (down to the brand and model) Later I found out that they will be putting up a shop that provides exactly the service that my shop provides. And my source,(a relative of my landlord) said that the reason of the puzzling similarity is because they have been watching me and discovering my work. I felt shattered. Why now? Why at this time that I am lacking in capital is there a competitor coming to crush me? Well, that is life and I have to deal with it... I guess..

They may have the funds, but I have the experience...hehehe... They bought a model same as mine, and I am sure they will encounter the same problems I had encountered. Problems that I am very proud I have overcome, by skill and sheer luck I guess. They are going to have a hard time I am sure... One thing that will make their life less miserable is if they have a very large surplus capital for their problems. But one thing is for sure... they will be as heartbroken as I have been once they discovered the problems that will arise once they start to operate shop.

I love my shop. It may be small and measly funded but it's everything that I've got. I sometimes want to quit because of it's low income generation but I still believe it will survive. And though I only learned this practice on my own, at home, I believe I have learned enough to survive this crisis in my life. I have learned enough to be able to learn more, to learn better, learn faster. I have made my mistakes earlier so I have learned from them earlier. I make mistakes quicker to straighten them and strengthen myself and my life's craft. I think that would be an advantage.

Another advantage that calms me down is that I have the lowest price in town. I claim it boldly because even before I started shop, I have already canvassed their prices and bench marked them on mine thereby getting the lowest price with great quality. Some say specially my suppliers that my price is almost borderline break even. I believe them. That is one reason that I am not generating enough income nowadays. That is one of my mistakes. Funny I am planning to pull my prices up a bit this next school season, but I think I should postpone it a little bit to cope with my upcoming competitor. My suppliers suggests me to price it up higher, but I want my goods to be affordable. Small profit in large quantity is my motto. They claim that no one will ever be able to beat my pricing. Any centavo lower and there would be no profit anymore. It may be not good business for me, but surely not for them either...

I want to thank my friends. They had helped me become strong a little bit. Would I found out my competitor earlier I would have quitted and die. I am grateful that even though a little bit frustrated, I had turned it into a driving force that would make me strive more and not just fall down. I think We all have our strenghts, and weaknesses. We all have our own trade secrets... And next to the "God will make a way" saying of mine is my old and ever legendary ego motto since high school, that I thought I have already lost: "No one can beat the JayuMaster!"

“A competitor will find a way to win. Competitors take bad breaks and use them to drive themselves just that much harder. Quitters take bad breaks and use them as reasons to give up. It's all a matter of pride.”