This is true, just as much in the world of commerce as academia. Competition is hotting up all around us. In every industry. At that time, the fish shop proprietors would never have dreamt that a small business owner, thousands of miles away, in Bombay, Hong Kong or Athens would soon be in their town to threaten their monopoly. You're just as exposed.
Competition comes from the most unlikely places.
And because of international trade, cheaper, faster, better technology and a more mobile workforce, the pace is not going to slow down. In some cases, new competition doesn't even have to be here in this country - they might be stealing market share through Internet trading . It may be important to continue to do whatever you have been doing but by itself, it's not enough. You've got to be doing all you can to protect yourself for the future. For your own peace of mind.