The world paid close attention to the summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un. Regardless of its ultimate outcome, there’s a lesson going on every entrepreneur should learn. Namely, how to avoid snakes in business. The Fable of the Scorpion and the Frog They come by different names: charlatans, cheats, hustlers, swindlers, and more. For those who’ve not heard it, the fable of the scorpion and the frog weaves a short, cautionary tale. A scorpion needs to cross a river and asks a frog for a lift. The frog objects, saying the scorpion will sting and kill him. Regardless of their specific methods, con artists typically depend on their abilities to charm, intimidate, and rapidly spin convincing lies. More often than not, con artists are successful because well-meaning staff members accidentally provide crucial information in an attempt to assist them. Ultimately, the best way to protect your business from con artists is to make your team aware that they exist. CEOs and their team members should be constantly vigilant about what they share and with whom. —Forbes.com But, the scorpion points out, if he were to sting the frog, both would drown in the river. The frog reluctantly agrees and midway, the scorpion stings him. The frog asks why and the scorpion replies, “It’s my nature, I’m a scorpion.” How to Avoid Con Artists to Protect Your Business Now, con men cleverly disguise their true natures. They conceal their actual motives and that’s what makes them so difficult to spot. But, there are usually at least one or two (even more) warning signs. Here are a few ways to avoid con artists to protect your business: Listen to your gut. Con men know how to read people — it’s a necessary trait. So, they are careful to convince. Which means, it’s not easy to spot the scheme straight away. But, your gut feeling might be all you need to avoid becoming a victim. Put things into perspective. This is another way of saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” In other words, if you hear something that seems to be too good, put it into perspective. More particularly, place it up against reality. If it’s like trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole, you have your answer. Don’t hesitate to ask around. Shysters need to move on and move quickly before word spreads. While it might not be comfortable, ask around. Do a little digging if you get a funny feeling to see if others had a bad experience. It’s worth your time and effort in the long run. Trust but verify. Along the same lines is to verify. Check out what they’re selling to learn if it’s genuine or just a hustle. With a small amount of sleuthing, you can save yourself a lot of grief. How do you spot charlatans? What additional advice would you give others about avoiding con artists? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

New competition can unnerve even the most seasoned business owners. After all, it’s new (meaning it brings a new presence, new energy, and a new atmosphere). Even if it offers something that’s already long-available — such as retail goods — it just seems like it’s got an immediate edge. So, people give it a try. When it appears it’s starting to take away sales, that can be cause for concern. But, it doesn’t mean the end of your business whatsoever. Read on to learn more about how to deal with new competition. New Competition Means New Opportunity New competition might well be frightening. It’s scary to think of someone else coming into the area to poach customers. And, if it starts to occur, that’s downright troublesome. However, it also means there’s new opportunity. …if you don’t have a strategy to beat the competition, you probably shouldn’t be in the business in the first place. But how can your business out-compete competition when the business world is such a tough place to survive? Much of it is about understanding the competitive threats and overcoming them. —Cleverism It’s important to remember that opportunity comes in many forms. Although this is one that is unexpected and probably unwelcome, it nonetheless remains an opportunity for your business. If you think about it in terms of opportunity rather than crisis, you will make far better decisions than you would otherwise. This means adopting a positive mindset that allows you to see and act clearly. 3 Practical Steps for Deal with New Competition A new business has opened in your market and you’re worried that it will or is taking sales away from your company. It’s an unsettling experience to say the least, but you can take three strategic steps to effectively deal with the situation: Don’t panic. It’s imperative to put things into perspective right away. Remember, your business is already established and the competition is new to the area. This means they have to make inroads where you’ve already been successful. Additionally, there is no cause for concern when you have an existing loyal customer base. Do some research. Take a little time to do some research. You can always visit the business yourself (online and in-person) to see what’s going on first-hand. Additionally, you can ask people who’ve patronized the company about their experiences. Between your own observations, and soliciting feedback from others, you’ll get a complete picture. Take appropriate action. Now, you can use that information along with anything else you gathered about your competition, to create a plan of action. Since you already know the local market, including demographics, your target customers, the overall niche, as well as other relevant factors, you still retain the advantage. Leverage this to retain your current customer base and to position your business as the established, trusted choice. What other suggestions do you have? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.