Observing Your Competition: How It Can Help Improve Your Craft

Observing Your Competition: How It Can Help Improve Your Craft

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I am in Dubai, giving keynotes, speeches, and meeting with clients in a trendy design area called Alserkal.

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Have you ever heard the saying, “keep your friends close, but your enemies closer?” When it comes to creative work, it can be beneficial to observe and analyze your competition. James Taylor, a keynote speaker on creativity, innovation, and future trends, shares his personal experience of how observing other musicians helped his father become a better jazz guitarist. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of observing your competition and how it can help improve your craft.

James Taylor’s Experience

James Taylor shares a personal story about his father’s experience as a jazz guitarist. His father had his first big professional gig on a ship called the QE2 when he was just 15 years old. He learned a lot from the other musicians and band leaders, but he also made sure to watch other bands perform, especially one with a guitarist whose playing he disliked. This approach allowed him to reflect on his own choices and consider alternative options in his music.

Taylor believes that this same approach can be applied to any creative field. By observing your competition, you can gain new perspectives and insights, identify strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately improve your own craft.

The Benefits of Observing Your Competition Gaining New Perspectives

Observing your competition can provide new perspectives that you may not have considered before. By seeing how others approach a particular task or project, you can learn new techniques, tools, and methodologies that you can apply to your own work. Additionally, observing the work of others can inspire creativity and encourage you to explore new possibilities.

Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses

Analyzing the work of your competition can also help you identify your own strengths and weaknesses. By examining the successes and failures of others, you can gain a better understanding of what works and what doesn’t in your industry. This knowledge can help you improve your own skills and make better decisions when it comes to your creative work.

Staying Up-to-Date with Industry Trends

Keeping up-to-date with industry trends is essential for any creative professional. By observing your competition, you can stay current with the latest developments in your field. This knowledge can help you remain relevant and competitive in your industry.

Encouraging Innovation

Observing your competition can also encourage innovation. By analyzing the work of others, you can identify gaps in the market or areas where you can differentiate yourself from your competitors. This can inspire you to think outside the box and come up with new and innovative ideas.

How to Effectively Observe Your Competition

Observing your competition effectively requires a strategic approach. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Attend Industry Events

Attending industry events such as conferences, trade shows, and exhibitions can provide an opportunity to network with peers and observe the work of your competition. By attending these events, you can see firsthand what others in your industry are doing and gain new insights into your field.

Read and Research

Reading and researching the work of your competition is another effective way to observe their work. By studying their projects, portfolios, and case studies,you can gain a better understanding of their approach to creative work. This can help you identify what sets them apart from others in your industry and gain insights into their techniques and methodologies.

Network with Peers

Networking with peers in your industry can also provide an opportunity to observe the work of your competition. By building relationships with others in your field, you can gain access to their projects and learn from their experiences. Additionally, networking can help you stay up-to-date with industry trends and build your professional reputation.

Use Critical Thinking

When observing the work of your competition, it’s important to use critical thinking. Rather than blindly copying what others are doing, take the time to analyze their work and understand the reasoning behind their decisions. Ask yourself why they made certain choices and consider whether those choices align with your own creative vision.

Overcoming Negative Emotions and Comparing Yourself to Others

Observing your competition can sometimes lead to negative emotions, such as jealousy or self-doubt. It’s important to recognize these feelings and address them in a constructive way. Remember that everyone has their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and comparing yourself to others will only hinder your own creative growth.

Instead, focus on what you can learn from your competition and how you can apply those insights to your own work. Use critical thinking to identify areas where you can improve and set goals for yourself based on what you observe.

Conclusion

Observing your competition can be a valuable tool for improving your craft as a creative professional. By gaining new perspectives, identifying strengths and weaknesses, staying up-to-date with industry trends, and encouraging innovation, you can take your work to the next level. However, it’s important to approach observation with a strategic mindset and use critical thinking to analyze the work of others

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Hello, James Taylor here, a keynote speaker on creativity, innovation, and future trends. Today, I want to discuss how observing your competition can help you improve your craft. Currently, I am in Dubai, giving keynotes, speeches, and meeting with clients in a trendy design area called Alserkal. There are numerous nice restaurants, galleries, and even a food festival happening here, offering amazing regional dishes.

While in Dubai, I had the opportunity to visit what I believe to be the largest floating library in the world. On my way there, I passed by another ship called the QE2, the Queen Elizabeth 2. Interestingly, my father, a jazz guitarist, had his first big professional gig on this ship when he was just 15 years old. He learned a lot from the other musicians and band leaders, but he also made sure to watch other bands perform, especially one with a guitarist whose playing he disliked. This approach allowed him to reflect on his own choices and consider alternative options in his music.

When it comes to critical and creative thinking, it’s helpful to analyze and challenge the decisions made by others. For example, when I read a book, I keep a journal or notepad with a line down the middle. On the left side, I write down everything I agree with or any ideas that come to me while reading. On the right side, I note all the things I disagree with or elements I think the writer could have done better.

So, give this a try: if there’s someone whose work you don’t appreciate in your field, consider how you could approach your craft differently, taking the opposite direction of their choices. Likewise, when reading a book, jot down your agreements and disagreements with the writer to better understand their decisions and how they relate to your creative work.

My name is James Taylor, and I’m here on the beautiful Alserkal Avenue in Dubai. Thanks for watching.

FAQs

1. What should I do if I feel discouraged by the work of my competition?

• It’s important to recognize these feelings and address them in a constructive way. Remember that everyone has their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and comparing yourself to others will only hinder your own creative growth. Instead, focus on what you can learn from your competition and how you can apply those insights to your own work.

2. How can I effectively observe my competition?

• Attending industry events, reading and researching, networking with peers, and using critical thinking are all effective ways to observe your competition.

3. What are the benefits of observing your competition?

• Observing your competition can provide new perspectives, help you identify your own strengths and weaknesses, keep you up-to-date with industry trends, and encourage innovation.

4. How can I use critical thinking when observing my competition?

• Rather than blindly copying what others are doing, take the time to analyze their work and understand the reasoning behind their decisions. Ask yourself why they made certain choices and consider whether those choices align with your own creative vision.

5. How can observing my competition improve my craft?

• By gaining new insights, identifying areas for improvement, and staying up-to-date with industry trends, you can take your work to the next level and differentiate yourself from others in your field.

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