5 Ways to Learn From the Competition

Learning from the competition is pivotal for personal growth, professional development and business success.

June 21, 2023

On a Sunday morning in January of 2001, Eric O’Neill received a call from his superior at the FBI requesting a meeting.

Working on Sunday wasn’t unusual for anyone at the FBI, but what made O’Neill nervous was that his boss was parked in front of his house.

O’Neill learned that he was being assigned to work alongside Robert Hanssen inside the FBI’s Counterintelligence office. He was to investigate if Hanssen was spying for the Russians.

Hanssen was meticulous in his daily routine, work behavior, and devotion to his palm pilot. He was also high-strung, vulnerable to fits of rage, and loved handguns.

His activities outside the job were a walking contradiction, from his daily attendance at Mass to his frequent visits to gentlemen’s clubs.

He was a paradox to the FBI and now O’Neill.

During this period in the FBI’s history, computer systems were outdated and extremely susceptible to hackers. Hanssen’s knowledge of cybersecurity was far superior to most of the Bureau’s and to O’Neill’s, which is why apprehending him would be so challenging.

The mandate from then-FBI Director Lewis Freeh to catch him in the act made it all the more daunting.

This meant O’Neill would need to earn Hanssen’s trust — which would not be easy — and ultimately have Hannsen teach him the art of spy craft.

Eventually, Hanssen did begin to open up to O’Neill, even teaching him methods and procedures to catch spies — including himself.

O’Neill knew Hanssen was the competition, the best in his field, and that his lifeline in this job was using Hanssen as a resource.

After 10 years, Hanssen was finally arrested on a cold day in February, making his last drop to the Russians.

The open-mindedness displayed by O’Neill is a valuable trait, too often hindered by jealousy and ego.

Learning from the competition is pivotal for personal growth, professional development and business success. Here are some ways we can learn from ours:

1. Research and analysis: Start by researching your competitors thoroughly. Analyze their strengths and weaknesses honestly and without jealousy or envy to identify areas where you can improve or differentiate yourself.

2. Benchmarking: Use benchmarking techniques to compare your performance with your competitors. You can set goals to close gaps and improve your performance by identifying gaps.

3. SWOT Analysis: Conduct a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) for your competitors. This helps you understand their advantages and vulnerabilities. Focus on their strengths to learn what they do well and identify their weaknesses to avoid making similar mistakes.

4. Innovation and differentiation: Look for innovative ideas and unique features your competitors are introducing.

5. Continuous improvement: Embrace a continuous improvement mindset by regularly monitoring your competitors.

Remember, while learning from the competition is important, it’s equally crucial to maintain your own unique identity and value proposition. Strive for a balance between learning from others and staying true to yourself.

When Hanssen was finally arrested for treason, investigators found on the floppy disc a note telling the Russians that O’Neill would be the perfect recruit when he retires.

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