What To Do When Competitors Copy You | Business Growth, Innovation & Staying Ahead
Release Date: 09/16/2025
How to Build Real Confidence as a Business Owner (Even While Figuring It Out)
SoTellUs Time
Most business owners don’t lack skill — they lack confidence. And the truth nobody talks about? Even the most successful entrepreneurs are still figuring it out as they go. In this episode of SoTellUs Time, Trevor Howard breaks down what real confidence looks like in business — and why waiting to “feel ready” is the fastest way to stay stuck. This isn’t about fake-it-till-you-make-it confidence. This is about earned confidence — the kind that’s built through action, decisions, and leadership under pressure. 👇 If you’re a business owner who feels the weight of leadership,...
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“Busy” Is Killing Your Business: Why Productivity Without Impact Leads to Burnout & Stalled Growth
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Are you constantly “busy” but not seeing the growth, freedom, or revenue you expected? This episode of SoTellUs Time is a must-watch for business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders who feel overwhelmed, overworked, and stuck in reaction mode. Being busy has become a badge of honor—but what if it’s actually a warning sign that something is broken in your business? In this powerful, real-world breakdown, Trevor Howard reframes productivity and shows why impact matters more than activity, and how staying busy often hides deeper issues like poor systems, lack of delegation, and avoidance...
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The December Advantage: A secret you need to Use to Explode Growth in the New Year
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Welcome back to another episode of SoTellUs Time! Today, Trevor reveals one of the most overlooked growth strategies in business: The December Advantage — your secret weapon for launching the new year with clarity, momentum, and massive profit potential. Most entrepreneurs treat December like a slowdown. Business gets quiet, customers get busy with friends and family, and owners mentally check out. But the truth is this: December is the MOST valuable month of the year for business growth — if you use it intentionally. In this episode, Trevor breaks down a powerful year-end review process...
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The Power of Your Story: Authentic Storytelling for Business Growth
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Your story is your most powerful marketing tool — and in this episode of SoTellUs Time, Trevor and Troy Howard reveal how to use authentic storytelling to build trust, attract customers, and drive massive business growth. If you’ve ever wondered why some brands instantly connect while others struggle… this episode breaks down the secret. People buy from people they feel connected to. Your story is the bridge. Your authenticity is the magnet. Your journey is the one thing no competitor can duplicate. What You’ll Learn ✔ Why storytelling is more persuasive than facts or features ✔...
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Build a Self-Managing Team That Runs Without You
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Imagine taking a full week off… and your business runs BETTER without you there. That’s the power of a true self-managing team—a team with systems, accountability, and autonomy so strong that you are no longer the bottleneck. In today’s SoTellUs Time episode, Trevor Howard breaks down the blueprint for creating a business that grows without constant supervision, endless questions, or micromanagement. Whether you're a small business owner, service provider, salon owner, childcare director, or leading a growing team, this episode gives you the exact systems and leadership framework to...
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The Most Profitable Skill You’re Ignoring: How Listening Can 10X Your Business Growth
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What if the key to explosive growth, happier employees, and loyal clients wasn’t another marketing tactic — but something much simpler? In this episode of SoTellUs Time, hosts Trevor and Troy Howard uncover one of the most underrated business superpowers of all time: listening. You’ll discover how the world’s most successful companies — from Microsoft to Starbucks, LEGO, Toyota, and Zappos — transformed their culture, customer loyalty, and profits by learning to truly hear what people were saying. This episode breaks down exactly how to apply those same listening strategies inside...
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The Follow-Through Formula: How Successful Entrepreneurs Actually Finish What They Start (and Crush Procrastination)
SoTellUs Time
How many brilliant ideas have you started but never finished? A new website, marketing campaign, or system that got 80% done — then lost steam? You’re not alone. In this episode of SoTellUs Time, hosts Trevor and Troy Howard reveal the exact Follow-Through Formula successful entrepreneurs use to finish what they start, turn ideas into action, and get real business results. 🔥 You’ll discover: ✅ Why most projects stall before the finish line ✅ The 5-step “Follow-Through Formula” to complete ANY project ✅ How to regain momentum when motivation fades ✅ The secret power of...
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Manage Stress Like a Pro: A Business Owner’s Guide to Staying Calm, Focused & in Control
SoTellUs Time
Running a business is tough — but burning out doesn’t have to be part of the journey. In this powerful episode of SoTellUs Time, hosts Trevor and Troy Howard reveal how to manage stress like a pro — the same way top-performing entrepreneurs, CEOs, and elite leaders handle pressure without losing their sanity. 💥 You’ll discover: ✅ Why business owners are more prone to chronic stress than most people ✅ The early warning signs of burnout that you can’t afford to ignore ✅ 3 proven strategies to manage stress effectively (used by elite business owners!) ✅ How to stay calm and...
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Disaster-Proof Your Business: Create an Emergency Plan to Save You from Total Shutdown
SoTellUs Time
Most business owners think, “That’ll never happen to me.” But when disaster strikes — from data breaches to power outages, or even your top employee quitting overnight — the businesses that survive are the ones that prepared in advance. In this episode of SoTellUs Time, Trevor and Troy Howard break down why every business needs an emergency plan and give you the exact steps to build one that protects your people, profits, and peace of mind. 🚨 Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: 00:00 – Intro: Why preparation is your greatest advantage 01:00 – Why most businesses skip...
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Unlock Hidden Profits: 5 Secret Revenue Streams Every Business Is Missing
SoTellUs Time
Most business owners are sitting on hidden profits they don’t even know exist! 💎 In this episode of SoTellUs Time, Trevor and Troy Howard reveal how to spot and seize hidden revenue opportunities already inside your business — no new products, no massive investments, just smarter strategy. 🎯 Episode Goal: Help business owners uncover overlooked income streams, fix profit leaks, and make small tweaks that create big financial gains. 🚀 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 00:00 - Intro: The hidden gold inside your business 01:00 - Why Hidden Revenue Gets Overlooked 👉 Comfort...
info_outlineYour competitors are watching you. They see your success, your unique strategies, your creative marketing—and then they copy you. But here’s the truth: being copied means you’re already in the lead. In this episode of SoTellUs Time, Trevor and Troy Howard share how smart business owners can flip copycats into fuel for growth instead of frustration.
👉 Why do competitors copy you? Because they lack originality, they see your success, and they want the shortcut. Instead of panicking, learn how to respond strategically and stay miles ahead.
✅ Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
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Why being copied is actually a compliment (and a sign you’re doing something right)
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The biggest mistakes business owners make when reacting to copycats
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5 smart strategies to protect your brand and stay ahead:
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Double down on what makes you different (customer service, brand story, experience)
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Innovate constantly—competitors can only copy the past, not your future
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Tell your story better—your “why” creates loyalty no one can steal
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Leverage trust—reviews, proven results, and relationships competitors can’t fake
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Protect legally (patents, trademarks, copyrights) if it truly matters
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We’ll also explore famous brand battles like Pepsi vs. Coke and Chick-fil-A vs. other fast-food chains to show how leaders rise above the noise and turn imitation into validation.
💡 Key takeaway: If someone’s copying you, it’s because you’re already leading the way. Use it as motivation to innovate, evolve, and deepen your connection with customers. Don’t fear being copied—fear being forgettable.
🌟 Subscribe to SoTellUs Time for weekly strategies on marketing, customer reviews, business growth, and staying ahead of the competition:
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👉 https://www.sotellus.com
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