The Crowd Doesn't Always Know Best

 

In the digital space, I am known for being an entrepreneur type person but in my family I am known for one thing and one thing only.

I have a gift for finding short lines.

I’ve always been this way, and that is because I hate standing in lines more than anything.

Anyways, just the other day, I was at Belk’s buying a new dress for my sister’s graduation, and there was a line. A long line.

I surveyed the line and immediately went into strategy mode. WAIT. How can these lines be this long?

Belk has 4-5 little customer service kiosks around the store, how could NONE of them be working?

I did my research and instead of waiting in the line I walked around a little. I know what you are thinking.

Yes, there is risk in this! What if I walk around and end up back in the SAME LINE AND NOW IT IS LONGER?

Sometimes you gotta go with your GUT, y'all. So my mom and I walked around and sure enough, there she was!

Janice, (that is my name for her) was pretending to be busying herself with hanging up clothes, but really she was just trying to avoid the long lines. She didn’t want to work.

We walked up to her.

“Can you check me out?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she said with an eye roll. “I can.”

Slowly but surely a huge line of people formed behind me. I had found the secret! The empty line! They were actually annoyed with me. “How come I had to stand in line, and this girl just walks up and checks out?”

How DARE I not fall into line with everyone else? I should have to wait! I should have to suffer!

Not really. Everyone had the option to leave and to find that new line, but nobody did. They thought they had to stay put. They didn’t want to ask.

This isn’t even a rare occurrence. I can’t tell you how many times a long line is formed and it turns out there is just a lazy check out guy whose manager is off making out with the hot dog girl and so he decided he doesn’t give a shit.

People often ask me about my breakthrough story and besides the 100 people project, this is the one thing I credit most for pushing me forward in my business.

Strategy.

“Strategy” is this word that gets thrown around a lot in the business world, but nobody actually talks about what it is and what it means.

To be strategic means to get OUT of the line with everyone else and seek out NEW solutions for your problems. (Tweet this!)

This is a key characteristic of successful businesses. They stand out, and people COPY them because they approach things differently.

You take stock of what is happening, and you take RISKS to move your business forward. (Tweet this!)

To be strategic means to understand what is going on and be educated about the way things work so you can do something different.

FOR EXAMPLE:

In the early days, I did 5-day challenges instead of the typical workbook opt-in. I decided to sell my classes like products and position my 1-on-2s like products. I created a quiz for my business and created my brand chemistry types instead of just working with “people” I work with “brand chemistry types.”

Just because you see other people suffer, doesn’t mean YOU have to suffer. Just because other people are waiting in line, you don’t have to wait in line. Just because everyone is doing ______, doesn’t mean you have to too.

There is a reason why entrepreneurs are considered mavericks. Entrepreneurs have the unique ability to find opportunities that other people don’t see. (Tweet this!)

If you find yourself falling in line with everyone else, ask yourself this: are you first in line or are you in the back wishing you had gotten into line sooner?

In summary,

• If there is a strategy that feels like throwing cats out windows, don’t do it. • If everyone else is following a person that you can feel in your heart is bullshit, stop following them. • If everyone else is applying/submitting to something one way, look for another way. • If it seems like there is only way and you HATE it, see if there is something else you can do.

Instead, be strategic! What are people missing? What are people ignoring? What are you seeing that other people don’t?

To be an entrepreneur means to see things that people don't see. (Tweet this!)

There are no guarantees in this life but why not try instead of needlessly waiting in line for something, to work?

I mean, you could mess around and miss the newest episode of Flip or Flop! (Just me? Ok, then.)

Over to you friends! Is there an area in your life right now where you feel like you are waiting in line vs. finding your own lines and sitting out front?

Is there something that is really bugging you and you feel like you have to do it but need help finding a way? Sound off!

Know someone who is feeling stuck in a line that won’t end but afraid to step out? Send them this post! I’ve made it super easy this week.

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