Sometimes it’s appropriate (perhaps even necessary) to compete with others: sports and elections come to mind this time of year. Other times, we can choose to collaborate with one another so that everyone comes out a winner. Roger Murphy, founder of Murphy Business, understands the power of collaboration and it’s one of the core values within our network.
Understand first that it’s exceedingly rare in the business brokerage industry for brokers to work together for a common good. Most non-Murphy brokers hold their listings very close (even within the same office) and won’t co-broke with others…even when another broker might have a ready, willing, and able buyer. Maybe they think they’re protecting their success fee? At Murphy Business, hundreds of brokers in North America collaborate to put together deals that make sense every day. Part of something is better than all of nothing, and this is one of many reasons why we’ve been named the nation’s #1 business brokerage firm according to IBISWorld. We put our clients’ needs first.
What can we learn from this? Before we assume we need to compete with another person or business, look to see if collaboration might be a better choice. I love going to a festival where many different restaurants are represented selling small portions of their most popular dishes. I also like seeing an open house circuit where buyers can visit several properties at one time, regardless of who has what property listed. These are great examples of working together and being client-centered. How could your business or not-for-profit find partners or share information so that everyone will win more often? Business doesn’t have to be a cut-throat/take-no-prisoners environment. We certainly need to take steps to protect ourselves, but often we can help ourselves while helping others succeed.
In the end, it’s about helping people get where they want to go. If you are a buyer or seller and would like to benefit from the collaboration at Murphy Business, please contact me.