Customers don't care about your P&L or that a competitor is a "side hustle." To justify a higher price, you must clearly communicate tangible benefits like better organization, time savings, or superior staff, which directly improve their experience.

Elevate yourself from a vendor to a linchpin by offering insights that reframe a client's challenges. When you provide a perspective or data they haven't considered, causing them to think differently because of you, you become an essential, irreplaceable resource they rely on for strategic guidance.

Instead of competing in a crowded field on standard terms, redefine the competitive landscape. Build your strategy around a game that only you can win, where your firm's unique capabilities—like talent development or add-on execution—become the most important factors for success.

Curiosity is a long-term strategy, not a one-time tactic. By consistently asking curious questions across multiple interactions, you can identify a client's evolving business patterns and trajectory. This deep understanding allows you to anticipate needs and transform your role from a transactional vendor to a trusted strategic partner.

Don't wait for customers to ask about your value. Assume they view you and your competitors as commodities. It's your job to proactively explain why you're different and what additional value they receive for your price, effectively telling 'the rest of the story' beyond the basic product features.

Simply "servicing" an account by fulfilling orders makes you a replaceable commodity. To become indispensable, you must proactively bring insights and create new growth opportunities for your client. This shifts your role from a reactive vendor to a strategic partner, making you "sticky" and invaluable to their business.

If you struggle to feel your product directly serves a higher purpose, shift your focus. You can still create immense value and adopt a service mindset by solving your customers' adjacent problems—like making professional introductions or helping them find new employees.

If you consistently lose on price, you likely don't understand your own unique value. Interview your current customers to find out why they *really* buy from you. You may discover hidden differentiators—like personalized support or company stability—that you can then explicitly work into future sales conversations.

Don't just list all your features. To build a strong 'why us' case, focus on the specific features your competitors lack that directly solve a critical, stated pain point for the client. This intersection is the core of your unique value proposition and the reason they'll choose you.