Are you friends with your competition?

Question

I have worked at a few companies in my space and have gotten to know a number of the sales guys from my competitors.

Most are pretty cool dudes and we catch up and get drinks at conferences. Then go back and try to steal each others customers 😂

I feel like this is pretty unique since we are pretty cool and try to understand how its really going at each company but keep things pretty close to the chest as well.

I even got a friend of mine a job at a competitor.

Anyone else in this boat?

Do you view it as a good thing?

Accepted Answer

Keep your friends close and your enemies… You know.

Answer

"If my competitor were drowning I'd walk up to their mouth and stick a hose in it." -Ray Kroc

Answer

I mean, just because they work somewhere else, doesn't mean they aren't cool people. I have met a ton of people working in the same space that I'd get a drink with.

Answer

People that are dicks to their competition just seem like they're not good at sales.

Answer

Healthy competitions don't hurt anybody! You might learn a few things from them or they can learn a few  from you. It's a part of growth I'd say.

Answer

The idustry I sell too is super competitive but it's all the competition is on the marketing side.

Answer

Not at the moment but it's absolutely a good thing. We're all just people, and you never know what might happen in the future. They could be someone in your network that helps you get a job a couple of years from now.

We're selling somebody else's software!

Answer

unless the guy was competing against me on the same account but even then if theyre buying im not complaining

Answer

I have friends at my #1 competitor, mainly because I worked with them for over 5 years. Now, it’s so violently competitive between us that we’ll acknowledge the connections but wouldn’t be seen in public with each other. It’s just accepted that we’re after each other’s customers and thirsty for each other’s blood. I sort of like it.

Answer

One day you're competitors and the next you could be co-workers. Don't judge people based on where they work.

Answer

I know quite a few people in the same industry as me, some are friends - others acquaintances.

Answer

Niche space so I see them often at tradeshows/conferences, few nice guys there even some who I worked in the past, so yes.

Answer

Gotta keep your sales hire bench full. No better place to start than with the people you compete with.

Answer

Yeah for sure , at this point in my career I know a lot of my competitors, many of whom are friends.

Answer

Our tech space and product line is cut throat and people shoot each other dirty looks at conferences and do not talk to one another. It’s brutal. Also most people are super technical and nerdy, so don’t have very good social skills.

Answer

I have friends and former colleagues all over the place.  We just don’t usually talk business.

Answer

I'd love to have more friends at the competitors but don't have any right now

Answer

I don't know who they are. Seriously 😆

Answer

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TennisandSales

Are you friends with your competition?

30 comments

TennisandSales

Are you friends with your competition?

30 comments

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