Why Competition is Good for You

You just heard that a fellow author has hit the big time…best-seller list, agents crawling out of the woodwork, talk of a movie deal. How do you feel? Jealous? Maybe a bit of naysaying about the actual worthiness of the book? Stop. I’m going to explain why competition is good for you.

It’s as simple as that old adage, “Variety is the spice of life.” Simple, but true. Let me explain.

Imagine a friend offers to cook your favorite dinner of all time. Or, that special someone in your life wants to take you to a new restaurant, the one that everyone including all the critics tout as being the best ever. So, you indulge. The dinner your friend made was fantastic. The evening out with your partner was amazing.

Next week…same time, same place, they tell you.

Hmmm…ever hear of too much of a good thing? I’m willing to bet the second time around won’t be quite as fantastic. How much Louis XIII cognac infused lobster with truffle oil risotto can one person consume? You need variety. The same is true of books.

The best thing about one of your author friends hitting the big time is that they are your friend! Chances are they come up on your Facebook feed for all the world to see. That means, they’re likely to click onto your page as well. Even better, some of their friends may have purchased one of your books in the past. That means when someone new goes to Amazon to purchase their new best-seller, that nifty “Customers who bought this item also bought…” phrase will pop up and your book will be on that list.

So remember, embrace your friends’ success. Wish well unto others and goodness comes back to you.