In logging, there is a saying:
“When the water is low, the stumps will show”
It refers to the cylclicle nature of the industry, and how only the toughest survive when things are hard.
Recently I heard it said another way referring to the real estate industry in last year’s Leadership conference:
“When the water is low, you can see who has been swimming around naked!”
So true! It is the toughest of times that determine the real winners in any industry: success in Real Estate, IT, or any business requires endurance: but not just financial endurance, sometimes it is merely the attitude of the survivors that brings them through.
I once worked for an auto dealership that had six franchises until it started shutting them down one my one then went bankrupt. As salespeople, nobody knew exactly when to bail, or if there would be new opportunities with new ownership. As all the best used car inventory started disappearing off the lot to pay bills, the prospects became more and more bleak as a salesperson. With a family to support, I was one of the first to bail. But I never forgot the fact that those who stayed were so busy that they made a ton of money in the last few weeks, as bargain hunters hit the lot looking for fire sales, and bonuses where paid in cash to retain a sales force.
People who are truly fearless can sometimes benefit from everyone elses panic.
The water is low right now, for many of us, but tomorrow will come.
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