Comments on: Non-Scientific Poll: Underdog or Big Dog

By: Seven

Seven — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:49:56 +0000

I work w/a starbucks competitor who is going through the same thing… here’s the NYT article (can’t find it on the times site): http://themudtruck.com/press/mudtruck/05_05_NYTI.html

By: Dan Jallits

Dan Jallits — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 00:06:33 +0000

No doubt, I’d rather be the Big Dog, this way I would have more staying power.

Think about it. Deep pockets to market a shitty product, that I am told endlessly is getting better each and every time. Deep pockets to buy my competition who has a solid product with a decent feature set, or pay for the attorneys to sue their pants off. And then there is always the control of roughly more that 90% of the way you see the Internet.

No question…. Big Dog

By: Derek Featherstone

Derek Featherstone — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 05:15:52 +0000

Be the big dog to the people that make the decisions and sign cheques; underdog to the people that are going to help you get in front of the decision makers in the first place, and aim to be top dog to both.

By: Joe Clay

Joe Clay — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 03:18:04 +0000

Mario, that’s not what I mean by you are your own competition.

Yes, you should always keep practicing. What I meant was in effort. I’m sorry that wasn’t clear. I meant that if you know you can produce something better than what you are producing, then you are wasting your time producing the inferior product.

By: Denial Sander

Denial Sander — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 12:24:32 +0000

Big dog, ofcourse.

Anyone saying something else doesn’t know the first thing about running a business.

It’s like telling the world champion (in whichever sports) that it’s no good to be the defender of the title…

Be good. Be big – and seek the challenge it is to stay number one. That is more time consuming and difficult than anyone can imagine.

To stay number one you’d have to always outsmart the underdogs. You still have to be cutting edge and creative – and you need to have a sound focus on day-to-day management to strain the big dog from becomming careless regaring it’s clients, costs and your creative force.

Of course would I love to be the big dog! The big dog get’s invitations to all sorts of nice projects, while the underdog spend far too much time chasing even the oppertunity…

By: karmatosed

karmatosed — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 09:01:11 +0000

It appears no matter what dog you are there is always going to be someone to kick you – kicking net dogs is the passion of so many. I really think that either position is not ideal. Ultimately, I go with Tyme on the resources thing and also add my own bit along the being true to yourself vein. If you just focus on being yourself and being true to your methodology then whatever label you have thrust onto you won’t be a problem. Labels will always be put onto anything online and the knack is either having to have a new label created just for you or just sticking to what you are good at and investing in the users and members.

By: Mario

Mario — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 01:39:53 +0000

I disegree with Joe. If you have bills to pay and live from your business you can’t just do it for yourself and you got to think about the competition and try to match or go over them other wise you’ll always be 2nd, 3rd, 4th choice.

And trust me, you don’t born with a gift you practice and improve so if you’re work isn’t good, keep on practicing and maybe one day you’ll get to the top spot.

By: Joe Clay

Joe Clay — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 16:40:33 +0000

Don’t act like or think you are anything. Do what you do. Your only true competition is yourself. If you can produce something better than what you’re producing, you’re wasting your time. Always better yourself. You are your goal.

If you’re producing your best work and you don’t make it in the market you’ll never be the big dog anyway.

By: Mario

Mario — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 03:08:55 +0000

If I had a company I would prefer to be the Big Dog. Let’s face it, it all comes to the publicity and clients. A well quoted company has a better chance of being successfull, an underdog company might never come out of that.

What would you prefer, being a kid that does a couple of cute things with friends or having your company that’s well succeeded and has a future?

I would definitely go for a chance at being where the big money is.

By: CodeNinja

CodeNinja — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 21:55:55 +0000

Someone in the prev. comments had it right… always act as the underdog…

When you achieve big-dog status, you tend to stagnate (MS Anyone?) but if you keep your mindset in the realm of the underdog, you can be as large as google and still push the market…

Companies who do this are seen as major inovators! Google, Yahoo (to an extent), Apple, 37signals (among others). While those who get to the top of the ladder and let it go to their heads tend to be very slow to react.

Microsoft developed AJAX functionality but didn’t know what they had when they had it… Google figured it out and ran with it an now NOONE looks at MS and says, “Wow, their smart”. All the attention is on the other guys.