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Sometimes I see a scenario where a small business owner in the home service industry feels that he or she must maintain good relationships with their local competitors so that they can help each other grow, share trade information, and pass off extra work. If you want a business that is stagnant or grows only as fast as the market expands, then I guess this is the way to go. But if your goal is to grow rapidly and to take market share (as your goal should be), then you must learn to be more ruthless. After all, did you become a contractor to make friends or to make money?
Your competitor is the enemy. They should be treated as such. I’m not saying to bad-mouth them or lie about them to potential customers. I’m not saying to sabotage their business with unscrupulous methods. I AM saying that the quality of your work, the excellency of your customer service, and the effectiveness of your marketing must all be so overwhelming that they are tools to rocket your business and bury your rivals. Do you really think they would shed a tear if you went out of business? They are plotting against you every day, and if they are not then someday their business will die.
We live in a capitalist society, and business is war. The sooner you can learn to embrace this concept, the better. By all means, be a nice guy “off the field”. Character is important. But when you “step between the lines” that guy in the other jersey is the only obstacle to 
your ultimate success and domination. You have a duty to yourself and your employees to crush him, to decimate him, to run up the score on him. Otherwise your business is an exercise in futility, and your future could be one of uncertainty. Cut your ties with your competitors. They are holding you back, or worse yet, they are preparing to take your down while you sleep.
My name is Jeff and I created this blog in 2007 to help and inspire contractors and home service providers. It’s come a long way since then.