As I was stuck in traffic one afternoon, I happened to look out the window and witness a fascinating event. Two small birds, perhaps sparrows, were being attacked by a larger bird, perhaps a grackle (those are guesses-forgive me for not knowing the exact species). Then the small birds turned the table. The two of them attacked and drove off a bird many times their size. How did they do it? They knew their competition. They knew that a "beak-to-beak" battle would be short-lived and would not end in their favor, because the grackle was much larger and stronger. Their advantage was agility. They were much faster and more nimble than the grackle. Essentially, one of the sparrows would fly in front of the grackle, just out of his reach, while the other sparrow flew above the grackle. While the lower sparrow created a distraction, the sparrow on top would constantly dart down and peck the grackle on the back of his head. Every time he did, the grackle would flinch and alter his course. After being repeatedly "pecked" from above, the grackle finally gave up and flew away.

What on earth does this bizarre episode from Urban Animal Planet have to do with business? Those sparrows are smarter than most business owners. First of all, they knew exactly who their competition was...the grackle. Second, they knew the strengths of the grackle. He was much bigger and stronger than them. Third, they knew their advantages over the grackle. They were much quicker and more nimble (and apparently smarter). They used all of this knowledge to their advantage to quickly and safely deter their competition.

How much time have you spent evaluating who your competition is, what their strengths are, and what your advantages are over them? Doing so can provide you with the knowledge you need to overcome your competition.

First, who is your competition? Sometimes this is incredibly obvious, and that is what causes problems. Who is the primary competition of Coke? Obviously, it is Pepsi. However, cola drinks have been losing market share to bottled water, flavored water and energy drinks for several years now. Many people do not realize that a can of iced Starbucks is competition for Coke. Apply this to your situation. You know you are competing with people who do the exact same thing you do. However, what other professions or businesses can interfere with your success? Know who you are competing against.

Second, what are their strengths? You cannot change the strengths of your competition. You must identify their strengths and adjust accordingly. If you are not sure what their strengths are, you should ask some of their customers. "That's great, Mrs. Johnson. I have heard that the ABC Firm is a great company. Exactly what about them persuaded you to select them?" Once you have identified the strengths of your competition, then you can develop a strategy to combat those strengths.

Third, what are your advantages over them? This two-part step is the most difficult because it requires us to be honest with ourselves and identify our strengths and weaknesses. Assume one of those sparrows was not honest with himself and determined his advantage was strength and power. What would happen when he decides to challenge the grackle face-to-face? The birds are smart enough to be honest about their strengths and weaknesses, because it is the only way to survive. If you want to survive, you should, too.

Once you have determined your strengths and weaknesses, you can compare them to the strengths of your competition and develop a strategy for victory. For some, developing the strategy is a plain as black and white, and for others it is the most challenging part of a smart business plan. Either way, it is the only way to ensure your survival.