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Updated over 11 years ago on . Most recent reply

Big/little fish in little/big pond
So, I'm reading 'David and Goliath' by Malcolm Gladwell . Not a real estate book, but his stories and books are always about giving us a different perspective to look at certain things. Concepts, Ideas, etc
I didn't know, but David beat Goliath, because he was a slinger and Goliath was working with spear and sword. Which is like someone with a sword not having much of a chance against someone with a gun.
Many successful people prefer to be a big fish in a little pond, rather than a small fish in a big pond.
I realized, that I've never had any interest in being a small fish in a big pond - i.e. I don't like competing. Once there are a number of other people involved, I walk away. No longer fun for me. So, I've always found my own niches, where I didn't have much competition: Major rehab of victorian homes, wholesaling of vacant lots to builders, buying rental property in a neighborhood that most investors don't want to deal with. And apart from real estate, most things I've been involved in, including present and past other businesses, I'm always a big fish in a small pond and I have no or very little competition.
And there are other people, who thrive on competition. Who'd rather be a small fish in the big pond, so that they can build themselves up to becoming a bigger fish. They're really good at working the tried and true concepts and walking the paths that many have forged before them.
Where do you see yourself?
Most Popular Reply

The only thing I love more than competing is making money (a bit exaggerated, but you get the point). So, while I love to compete, when it comes to my business, I'm happy to be any sized fish in any sized pond as long as I'm making the most money possible.