How to distinguish yourself in the marketplace.

I was reminded today again just how important it is to 'have your own brain' in the marketplace. After 10 years of reviewing worker's comp cases and going through the filing process in the State of North Carolina, I am learning to rely mostly on 'me'. Most insurance companies and brokers offer various elaborate (and expensive) software schemes to help track injuries and create a statistical analysis database. Thankfully I realized early on that a great percentage of these softwares are not compatible with each other. So, for example, comp carrier 'A' sells me one package. Two years later we corporately decide to change carriers. Now carrier 'B' sells me another package to 'manage my claims'. I find out only 50% of the information will convert into my new format.

Today I had the pleasant experience of listening to a pitch regarding a new software offered through our comp carrier that managed our injury tracking and statistical data. I listened intently and politely. I then illustrated our 'in-house' developed method of tracking. I was told that our methods far exceeded what the carrier could offer and that we should probably stick to what actually worked.

I say this not out of pride but more out out of sincerity. If you have a method that is global, that works, that is legal and that is profitable........don't let folks tell you that you are crazy. Vendors come and go but 99% of the time they care about,....guess who? The vendor cares about the vendor at the end of the day. Do not fall victim to schemes that completely disregard processes you may have that actually work.

On the other hand, it is also important to admit if you have processes that are not global, that do not work, are illegal and that are not profitable. One of the largest failures I see in business today is the lack of acknowledgment of a 'shrinking globe'. Profitable companies can no longer isolate themselves within a region or Country. The market is GLOBAL. We must begin thinking in terms of internationally compatible software etc.

In summary, today was rewarding but basking in the success of today will not help me tomorrow....... for tomorrow is a new day.

Your thoughts?

kml
2009