Why your small business has a promising future, especially now

Are you just starting your business? Does the market seem impenetrable and the competition untouchable? Then I have some good news: that feeling is actually an excellent sign.

Virtually every booming market goes through the same cycle. Large companies dominate for years, with strong products, solid customer relationships, and deep pockets. They seem unbeatable. Until... a small newcomer unexpectedly turns everything upside down.

Marco Coolen, photo © Bart van Overbeeke

The power of the small player

Startups and young companies often start small. Their first product may not be perfect: fewer features, slightly less refined, sometimes even a touch amateurish compared to what the big boys have to offer.

But that is precisely where their strength lies. While large companies cling to their existing formula for success—their products, customers, and margins—small entrepreneurs are quick to seize new opportunities. They dare to experiment, learn from their customers, and continuously improve their products or services.

The pitfall of the market leader

Large companies are often so busy maintaining their position that they become blind to the changes around them. Innovations that initially yield less profit are ignored or underestimated.

And the examples are notorious:

• Kodak invented digital photography, but stuck with film rolls.
• Nokia dominated the mobile market but missed the smartphone revolution.
• Blockbuster laughed at Netflix and forgot to invest in streaming.
• BlackBerry didn't believe in touchscreens and lost out to Apple.

They continued to do what had worked before for too long, while small challengers grew steadily and eventually became the new market leaders.

Why your position is stronger than you think

Precisely because you are still small, you can:

✔️ Make quick decisions without cumbersome management layers.

✔️ Use direct customer feedback to improve your product.

✔️ Adopt new technologies without dragging old systems along with you.

✔️ Seize opportunities that seem “too small” or “too risky” for big players.

That ability to adapt quickly is worth its weight in gold in markets that are constantly changing.

Keep moving, keep improving

The key? Persevere and improve. Don't stand still for a single day. Listen closely to your customers. Look for where the established order is falling short. Where they become slow, defensive, or don't take their customers seriously enough, there is room for you.

Every improvement, no matter how small, brings you closer to the front of the pack. And one day, your small business will be the challenger that keeps the big names awake at night.

David wins more often than you think

History teaches us that market dominance is never permanent. Large companies seem untouchable until someone dares to innovate where they stand still.

So don't be discouraged by the size of the competition. Keep building, keep listening, and keep moving. Every strong market offers opportunities for entrepreneurs who dare to think differently and act faster.

Tomorrow, your small business could be bigger than you ever thought possible. And maybe you'll be writing the next success stories that others marvel at.