Mr. Internet’s Modern Aesop Fable:

 The Lemming Meets The Lion and Who Survives

Lion: Hello, Lemming

Lemming: EEEK!  What are you?

Lion:  I’m a Lion.

Lemming: A what?  Oh well, never mind.  Even though you smell a bit funny, you want to run with me?  I’m going this way.

Lion: No thanks. Really.  I’m pretty happy in my territory right here.

Lemming: WHAT?  But, we’re ALL running this way!  Look!

Lion: Yes, I know.  But, do you know there’s a cliff right over there?

Lemming:  A… cliff?

Lion:  Yes – big drop off, sharp rocks and a lot of water at the bottom.  Very nasty, very dangerous.  Don’t you read the papers?

Lemming: Hmmmm, doesn’t sound too pleasant.  What was that thing you said about being happy in a territory? What’s that?

Lion:  Why yes!  I scouted around and found this area that seemed pretty nice and interesting, so I learned it’s every detail very carefully.  I found I really liked it a lot, so I decided it and most everything in it was mine.  With all the turmoil in the world today, there’s plenty of prey for me to hunt, and it’s easy because it just, ahem… runs right on into my territory.  In fact, I’m sorry about this, but I’m feeling a bit peckish right now…

Lemming: Lion – what are you doing?  EEEEEEEEKKK!

Mr. Internet’s Moral: 

If you continue to do what everyone else is doing, you’ll end up with the same results as everyone else.  Differentiation is the key to not only survive, but thrive in any market condition.

A Lemming Wakes Up

One of my eTEAM Leaders recently told me of a new member who joined her team in quiet desperation.  Now, that sounds bad, doesn’t it?  Not really, when you know the rest. 

This was an older gentleman who had “been there, done that”, having made the real estate industry his entire career.  Everyone looked at him as the rock in the middle of their office.  But he realized he was not happy anymore!  Why?  Because he was working way too hard for the results he was getting.  Had he lost his edge?  Should he retire?  These thoughts haunted him, but he kept hearing discussion in the office about Online Dominance and the success several of those team members were enjoying.  So, he went to the eTEAM Leader, and when she asked why he wanted to join, he answered , “Because I need to.  If I don’t, I think I might as well just give up.”

Now, this story is not intended to be a shameless promotion for my program.  My point is that this gentleman is The Lemming that snapped out of the group mentality as one foot went over the edge of the cliff.  He actually stopped, looked down and said “Uh-uh, no way!” and took a look around.  On one side, he saw another lemming being eaten by a lion – he decided two things:  one, (very reasonably) that may not be the best direction to go, and two, that The Lion obviously had the right idea. 

By differentiating himself from all the other realtors struggling to round up business in this market, he has done much better by creating a niche and mastering it.  He is learning to enjoy his new career and life… as a Lion!