“If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too.” –Maya Angelou
This is probably one of the best quotes I’ve read in a long time, and it’s so apropos when it comes to entrepreneurship. As a real estate agent, I have witnessed this “grass is always greener” mentality for
many years. I have witnessed countless mortgage brokers, title agents, and real estate agents hop from company to company looking for that “right fit”. When business doesn’t take off for them like a rocket at the new company, their instinct is to immediately start looking for a new place to go. After all, it has to be the company, right? It couldn’t possibly be a problem with their work ethic, marketing plan, or implementation, could it?
I have seen this same phenomenon at work with friends and family members who are always involved with the latest network marketing or MLM craze. From Amway to Mary Kay, Noni Juice to Creative Memories, there is always a new get rich quick scheme that is going to solve all of their financial problems. When the “pie-in-the-sky” promise doesn’t immediately come to fruition, they fall hook line and sinker for the next “opportunity” that comes along. I am always amused when I get the same pitch as I’ve heard so many times before about how this new endeavor is “different” and it is a “ground floor” opportunity. Boy, if I had a nickel for every time I….Oh well, I digress.
Now don’t get my wrong, I am in no way criticizing the MLM companies. I don’t doubt their success stories for a second. In fact, I embrace their success stories and wish more pe
ople would learn from them. I can guarantee you that those who have achieved great success in any business, whether real estate, network marketing, or something completely different, did so by focusing their attention 100% on the task at hand. Successful people purpose in their hearts to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. Their gaze is so fixed on the reward in front of them that they don’t have time to even look at the grass on the other side of the fence, much less determine whether or not it’s greener.
The point of Maya Angelou’s statement is this; If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, there is good reason for it. The individual on the other side of the fence didn’t just get lucky, but rather made a sacrifice to do the things that other, less successful people were unwilling to do. It may have come in the form of a higher water bill, the expense and labor of applying fertilizer, or perhaps researching books and online articles on creating the perfect lawn. Whatever the difference was, it was not simply the location alone that made the grass greener. It was better decisions, harder work, and an unwavering attention to detail.
Whenever you find yourself tempted to start looking for the next big opportunity, ask yourself if you’ve really given everything to the last big opportunity. You may find that with a few small changes and a fresh commitment to doing the right things, you may just find success (and a greener lawn) right where you are.
many years. I have witnessed countless mortgage brokers, title agents, and real estate agents hop from company to company looking for that “right fit”. When business doesn’t take off for them like a rocket at the new company, their instinct is to immediately start looking for a new place to go. After all, it has to be the company, right? It couldn’t possibly be a problem with their work ethic, marketing plan, or implementation, could it?I have seen this same phenomenon at work with friends and family members who are always involved with the latest network marketing or MLM craze. From Amway to Mary Kay, Noni Juice to Creative Memories, there is always a new get rich quick scheme that is going to solve all of their financial problems. When the “pie-in-the-sky” promise doesn’t immediately come to fruition, they fall hook line and sinker for the next “opportunity” that comes along. I am always amused when I get the same pitch as I’ve heard so many times before about how this new endeavor is “different” and it is a “ground floor” opportunity. Boy, if I had a nickel for every time I….Oh well, I digress.
Now don’t get my wrong, I am in no way criticizing the MLM companies. I don’t doubt their success stories for a second. In fact, I embrace their success stories and wish more pe
ople would learn from them. I can guarantee you that those who have achieved great success in any business, whether real estate, network marketing, or something completely different, did so by focusing their attention 100% on the task at hand. Successful people purpose in their hearts to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. Their gaze is so fixed on the reward in front of them that they don’t have time to even look at the grass on the other side of the fence, much less determine whether or not it’s greener.The point of Maya Angelou’s statement is this; If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, there is good reason for it. The individual on the other side of the fence didn’t just get lucky, but rather made a sacrifice to do the things that other, less successful people were unwilling to do. It may have come in the form of a higher water bill, the expense and labor of applying fertilizer, or perhaps researching books and online articles on creating the perfect lawn. Whatever the difference was, it was not simply the location alone that made the grass greener. It was better decisions, harder work, and an unwavering attention to detail.
Whenever you find yourself tempted to start looking for the next big opportunity, ask yourself if you’ve really given everything to the last big opportunity. You may find that with a few small changes and a fresh commitment to doing the right things, you may just find success (and a greener lawn) right where you are.
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