The Jealous Ex Syndrome
Have you ever dated someone who couldn’t stop talking about their ex? Every time you sit down for dinner, it’s:
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“My ex used to take me to better places.”
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“My ex had a bigger car.”
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“My ex never made me wait this long.”
Sooner or later, you don’t even get angry at the ex. You just get tired of the person who won’t stop complaining.
Now, in business, many entrepreneurs make the same mistake. Instead of selling their own value, they spend time dissing the competition:
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“Ah, that company? Their products are fake.”
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“Those guys? They’re crooks, don’t trust them.”
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“We’re the only serious ones, everyone else is a joke.”
Guess what? The customer doesn’t see you as smart. They see you as insecure.
Your Customers Aren’t Blind
The African business community is sharp. Clients already know your competitors. They’ve seen their adverts, walked into their shops, and even bought from them before. So when you badmouth others, you’re not teaching the customer something new you’re only exposing your own bitterness.
It’s like going to a market and one tomato seller keeps shouting, “Don’t buy from them, their tomatoes are rotten!” Meanwhile, the customer is thinking, “But madam, where is your own fresh tomato? Show me that instead.”
Focus on Your Own Plate
Here’s the secret: clients don’t care about your competitor’s mistakes; they care about your ability to solve their problem.
Instead of saying, “Those guys will fail you,” say, “Here’s how we make sure you succeed.” Instead of, “Their service is poor,” say, “Here’s how we guarantee excellent service.”
Because in the end, people buy confidence not gossip.
Business Is Not High School Drama
Imagine if Coca-Cola spent all their adverts saying, “Pepsi is trash.” Would you respect them? No. Instead, they focus on making you thirsty and making their brand exciting. That’s how giants behave.
Small-minded businesses throw shade. Big-minded businesses shine brighter.
In business, never act like a jealous ex. Don’t badmouth your competitors to clients. Sell your value, showcase your uniqueness, and let the customer decide. Because at the end of the day, if your product is good enough, you won’t need to bring anyone down you’ll rise on your own.
By The Chartered Vendor
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