Competition
- mosesprop
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
I ran a local 5k race last week. It was around a beautiful winery overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. I won in my age group. Couldn’t believe it. I am hardly fast, more of a steady pacer. After 30 years of entering the occasional 5k or 10k, I took home my first 1st place medal.
My strategy is finally starting to work: I don’t need to outrun my competition, I just need to outlive them.
When I hosted my first guest in May of 2013, Airbnb had only been around for just over 5 years; they were just gathering steam with the adventurous souls who were open to sleeping in a stranger’s home. My one bedroom, one bathroom cabin with a 2 gallon hot water tank had little–really no–competition.
Fast forward 13 years, my immediate neighborhood has gone from no hosts to several dozen. My cabin now has a huge hot water tank for epic showers, but other than a microwave and a mini-fridge, no kitchen so I have really had to “up my game” in photos, descriptions, and amenities to keep up with the competition. I am struggling a bit, but I do believe in diversity so when one area of my business is weak, I have stronger areas to compensate for the higher vacancy rate.
To tie this in with my winning the 5k (yes, it sounds good to say that), stay focused on the long term. As a host of 13 years, I have pushed through burn out, city, county, and state regulation frustrations, COVID, changes in customer service standards and quality, and yet I am still here. Still showing up. Over 2,240 five star reviews.
I have seen many hosts come and go, often overwhelmed by little things, sometimes overtaken by bigger things like health or family issues, or having to relocate.
Just remember, you don’t have to outrun (outshine) your competition, you just have to outlive (outlast) them.
Show up with your best self today. You got this.
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