subject: Avoid the "Flea Effect" when starting or growing a Business [print this page] Avoid the "Flea Effect" when starting or growing a Business
The life of an entrepreneur is a challenging one, it is the road less traveled and full of challenges. I've had my ups and downs like all of us during my pursuit of extra cash to support my family.
It was during one of my down times that I remembered a science experiment from high school that involved fleas.
Now you may be wondering what fleas have to do with starting or growing a business but I believe there is a valuable lesson you will not easily forget after reading this article.
I call this the "Flea Effect". The first thing we did is place a dozen fleas in a glass jar with a lid. The fleas would try to jump out but would hit their head on the lid. After a few days they learned to jump just short of the lid so they didn't hit it.
Then we removed the lid to allow them to jump to freedom. Guess what, not a single one jumped out even though they could have if they wanted.
We then placed a dozen more fleas in the jar and guess what they did almost everyone of them jump our to freedom.
What did the original fleas do when they saw the new fleas jumping out? Did they jump out also? To put it in one word, NO. They continued to jump just short of freedom and remained in their glass jail without a lid.
The lesson here is not to allow yourself to stop trying just because you've failed in the past. I'm not sure what kept the fleas from jumping out after they saw the new fleas jumping out but for us it's fear.
Even when we see others finding financially freedom we don't try because of past failures.
Don't allow yourself to be reduced to that of a flea and never stop trying. Remember to avoid the "Flea Effect".
