In the business world, we all strive to be number one. For many, being number two is simply a reminder that the organization is the first loser. Being number two in the industry can still be quite profitable; I am sure that Apple is doing just fine in their effort to popularize their operating system, but we all know that Microsoft’s Windows Operating System is number one by quite the margin. On the flip side, Microsoft Zune is second behind the iPod from Apple, and they seem to be able to turn a profit here and there too. However, others, like Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, feel that being the very best within the industry is the only way to go. Welch is noted for this line of thinking and is famous for selling off all of the brands and companies that either were not at the top or simply could never reasonably achieve the title of industry leader. It should be noted that such a distinction is actually quite important in my book. Being the number two company in the industry is not terrible if it knows that it can reasonably achieve the top spot in a reasonable amount of time, assuming that it puts forth adequate effort. Unfortunately, some companies simply waste money and time on unrealistic goals, and, as a result, they overlook other great opportunities; these opportunities come in various forms and formats, but many times the opportunities pave the way for becoming the industry leader in something new and exciting, taking the lead and blowing away the competition. So, essentially, second place does suck, and we should typically strive to be much better than that! Luckily, technology allows smaller companies and organizations to compete with those that frequent the various Forbes lists. There are niche markets that are ready to be conquered, and those opportunities await those willing to seek them out and step up!
