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Thank you. THANK YOU! Something that has always pissed me off is when business leaders say things along the lines of "We're not about making money. That may be

Thank you. THANK YOU! Something that has always pissed me off is when business leaders say things along the lines of "We're not about making money. That may be a side effect of what we do. But our real mission is to help people do XYZ." Then they see other companies trying to do XYZ and try to put them out of business. We're always taught that competition brings out the best, and sometimes that's true. Sometimes you get parties in the same space improving in ways to one-up each other and put out a superior product. But sometimes you get Susan G. Komen trying to trademark the pink ribbon.

acangiano 13y ago
It's worth noting that Susan G. Komen was an innocent woman who died of breast cancer back in 1980. The questionable practices you mention are carried out by the homonymous association created in her memory by her sister (who is the CEO at the tune of $684K/year).
- elwell 13y ago
  wha? that's insane.
aethertap 13y ago
I think this is very dependent on what you're actually doing. I'm involved in an attempt to bring some more sustainable/regenerative methods and technology to agriculture, and in that space I'm glad to see anybody show up who's doing the same. I don't have competitors (in my view), because I have a gigantic task in front of me and my main concern is to see that it gets done (even though I'm trying to make money on it at the same time). I go out of my way to help other people who are trying to make a buck in my space. On the other hand, if you're selling a commodity (e.g. gasoline), then it's pretty hard to say that the guy across the street isn't competition. Perhaps there's a spectrum of appropriateness for cooperation/competition between these two extremes?
- chc 13y ago
  Well, I think the basic idea is that if you aren't driven primarily by profit, then as long as the other guy isn't putting you out of business, you have no need to put him out of business. Two gas stations can exist near each other and be quite profitable.

acangiano 13y ago

It's worth noting that Susan G. Komen was an innocent woman who died of breast cancer back in 1980. The questionable practices you mention are carried out by the homonymous association created in her memory by her sister (who is the CEO at the tune of $684K/year).

elwell 13y ago
wha? that's insane.

aethertap 13y ago

I think this is very dependent on what you're actually doing. I'm involved in an attempt to bring some more sustainable/regenerative methods and technology to agriculture, and in that space I'm glad to see anybody show up who's doing the same. I don't have competitors (in my view), because I have a gigantic task in front of me and my main concern is to see that it gets done (even though I'm trying to make money on it at the same time). I go out of my way to help other people who are trying to make a buck in my space. On the other hand, if you're selling a commodity (e.g. gasoline), then it's pretty hard to say that the guy across the street isn't competition. Perhaps there's a spectrum of appropriateness for cooperation/competition between these two extremes?

chc 13y ago
Well, I think the basic idea is that if you aren't driven primarily by profit, then as long as the other guy isn't putting you out of business, you have no need to put him out of business. Two gas stations can exist near each other and be quite profitable.