Do you happen to remember how Wile E. Coyote came about all of his incredible contraptions? The good ole Acme Corporation. What a company! A place where you could order anything from explosive tennis balls to rocket-powered roller skates to triple-strength fortified leg muscle vitamins. Wile could order anything anytime and have it delivered pretty much anywhere. The original Amazon Prime. So what is the story with the Acme Corporation? Why is it that Wile is such a committed customer? Why did he never purchase from anywhere else? Maybe they were the only game in town. I mean, I can’t think of another place where I could purchase dehydrated boulders or the little-giant do-it-yourself rocket sled kit.

Obviously, Wile E. Coyote and Acme are completely fictional and these questions are not really legitimate in the Warner Brothers cartoon world. But I do think it sparks some interesting real-life questions to ask of yourself. Most likely, you do not have the luxury of the Acme Corp. I would bet that you are not the only game in town. And if you are, you probably won’t be for long. There was a time when there would have been one Acme Corp. But that time has long since passed, and now there are dozens if not hundreds all competing with you.

So how do you get the edge? Why should someone purchase earthquake pills or a jet-propelled pogo stick from you? Well, Loretta Lynn said once, “Well you either have to be first, best, or different.” I don’t know specifically to what she was referring, but I believe it applies to the question of how and why you can succeed in your business. How are you set apart from the competition? Maybe you were the first to do something or sell something. So you have a history and a name based on heritage. Or you might be the best. People know your quality and they will choose you, even at a greater price sometimes because of your quality. Or maybe you are different. Sure, there are other people who make the same thing you make, but not quite the way you do. If people want the basic version, they can go get it from XYZ, but if they come to you, they are sure to receive a unique product or service.

There was a time when Acme ruled the roost. Giant rubber bands, tornado pills, jet-powered skates. The only way to catch a roadrunner was with the help of Acme Corporation (in theory at least). Today we live in a world overflowing with options. There is an Acme around every corner. Why will they choose you?