An eFable: the eTortoise and the eHare


In my lifetime, I've probably read ten different versions of the 
fable "The Tortoise and the Hare."  Each one presents the story 
from a slightly different perspective.

All in all, however, the stories are basically the same.  
There is a challenge to a race.  The hare smuggly races ahead, 
takes a break, and then misses the tortoise who slowly and 
steadily crosses the finish line.

I love this fable, really I do.  My children hear me refer to it 
constantly.  In fact, just last night they chose to act it out 
during a special family time.  Wish you could have been here.  It 
was choice!

I can't read this fable without becoming completely absorbed in 
the tortoise's thoughts.  What must he have been thinking while 
preparing for the race?  Was he nervous?  Did he feel inadequate?  
Did he think he must have been crazy when he agreed to the race?  
Perhaps he had second thoughts?  Did he lose sleep from anguish?

Or...

Was he invigorated at the very thought of the event?  Did he 
imagine the grandeur of the finish line?  Could he see the hare's 
weaknesses long before the race ever started, while believing in 
his own strengths?  Did his self-discipline keep him focused on 
his ultimate goal?

By now, you're thinking I've gone off the deep end and am way too 
absorbed in this ugly, old shelled reptile.  After all, it's just 
a turtle...uh, tortoise.  But, humor me a moment, and answer a 
question for me.

How do you see the tortoise?

Was he feeling self-defeated as he watched the hare speed ahead?  
Did he question how his short legs could possibly compete against 
the hare's long, spring-like legs?  Did he absorb the hare's 
incessant, ridiculing banter?

Or...

Did the tortoise see the folly of the hare's buffonery?  Did he 
simply ignore his know-it-all attitude, letting it bounce off his 
shell, while continually plugging ahead?

Why my seeming obsession with this fable?  Well, quite frankly, I 
can relate with this shelled, persistent, little guy.

He had a vision...he simply kept at it...and in the end he won.  

Now really, isn't that what you and I really want?  If, like the 
hare, you see yourself as playing with the big guys, smug in your 
over-funded ventures and racing to be first, then there really is 
no reason for you to be reading this article.  Is there?  

So, my guess is that you, like myself, view yourself as the 
tortoise.  While the so-called "experts" and how-to books say, 
"Rush, rush, rush to get your products and services on the web, 
for if you do not, you will surely lose the race;" we little guys 
work with great diligence and focus, methodically learning and 
growing.  We remain focused on our ultimate goal.

We put on our outer shells to the bombardments of media pressures 
and keep plugging away, slowly building our businesses, slowly 
fulfilling our dreams, slowly making it to the finish line.  And, 
as we slowly plug away in this so-called "race," we notice many 
foolish hares who don't quite get it along the path.

You and I are in a very good position to "get it."  So, do you?

Slow and steady will get you to your ultimate goal, regardless of 
what you might hear to the contrary by the fanatics.  It is a 
smart way to build your business.  It always has been in the 
history of business and always will be, whether on-line or 
off-line.  Dave and I, as well as many others, are living proof 
of this fact.

You are not too late.  Your market has not been saturated.  You 
will not be left behind in the dust of internet marketers.  There 
is plenty of time for you to mark your spot, your niche, on the 
web.  Just start doing something toward your goal.  Do it 
everyday.  Keep plugging away, and as a result, you will likely 
find that the cardio-vascular and endurance of your business will 
be in much better shape over the long haul.

Ignore the hype.  Slow and steady will get you to the finish line 
in plenty of time.

------
Note: You have permission to reprint this article in its 
entirety with the author's credits below.

Heidi and Dave Perry, the authors of this article and successful 
entrepreneurs, are the editors of HomeBizBytes and founders of 
HomeBusinessOnline.com and PrettyGreat.com.  Sign up for their 
popular newsletter http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/nsl.htm?hbb


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         Home Biz Bits 'n' Bytes
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        50% of Inc's Fastest Growing 
       Fortune 500's Started at home
 
Do you look with starry eyes at Inc. Magazine's Fortune 500 
companies?  Think you could never be one of them?

Well, this little fact will give you something more to think 
about.

"Each year Inc., a magazine aimed at entrepreneurs, lists the 
500 fastest growing companies in the United States. Many of 
these stellar businesses began as at-home operations. In 1999, 
for example, 48.5 percent of the Inc. 500 started at home. 
More encouragement for those of us with home offices and small 
offices: Many of the companies got their start without huge 
amounts of capital. In the 2000 Inc. 500, 58 percent of the 
companies started with $20,000 or less."

(Source:http://www.topica.com/tipworld)

-----
If you have a unique tip you'd like to share, I'll post it 
here with your credits.  Email your tips to me at
mailto:Editor@HomeBusinessOnline.com

_________________________________________

     Featured Home-based Entrepreneur
_________________________________________

Mike McGroarty
FreePlants.com &
Making Money With Homemade Booklets

I hope you read today's featured article on the eTortoise and 
the eHare.  Mike's story epitomizes the eTortoise concept.  
Mike is building his online success, one website, one article, 
and one report at at time.  In his own words he says, "Keep 
one thing in mind. I created it (website) one article at a 
time."

It was two years ago that Mike put his gardening site online. 
He admits, "I was scared to death, and really didn't have a 
clue as to what I was doing. The hosting fee was $34.95 per 
month, and to be perfectly honest, I couldn't afford it. I put 
it on my credit card figuring if it lost money I'd have to pay 
it off in the spring when I started selling plants and 
landscaping, and would have to pull the site if it wasn't 
profitable by June when my money would run out."

"33 days and nothing. I kept telling myself it was O.K., but I 
was really disappointed. On the 34th day I made my first sale. 
From then on the site broke even every month, as I learned 
many things about selling on-line."

Mike kept plugging away, adding new articles and reports to 
his site.  Slowly, things picked up.  Now, two and a half 
years later his site is doing well. He built up 7,000 
newsletter subscribers in just 12 months, and has sold tens of 
thousands of dollars of his homemade booklets and videos.

What is Mike's advice?

In his own words, "My advice to anybody starting out, is to 
pursue your passion.  Don't think that all the money is being 
made by teaching others how to make money on the net. Nothing 
could be further from the truth. The opportunity market is 
tough, and flooded with people selling their wares."

"Go where nobody else is going. Finding that narrow path is 
like magic on the internet. All you need is one good key word 
that is not being worked to death, and you will do really well."

Most of all, Mike feels that you should follow your passion 
in whatever you do.  Your passion will come through to your 
visitors.  He asserts, "People love my gardening site because 
it doesn't take a person long to realize that the person 
behind it is passionate about plants."

Mike's advice shows through loud and clear on his websites.  
Way to go, Mike!

Visit Mike's informative sites at:
http://www.freeplants.com
http://www.homemadebooklets.com

__________________________________________

         Kind Things You Have Said
__________________________________________

* Editor's Note:  Ahhh, you're just saying that...
---

  Amen, Heidi! Couldn't have said it better myself. :) 
  Be sure to submit this one (article) to IdeaMarketers if you 
  haven't already. :)
 
  Marnie Pehrson
  Writer, Consultant, Content Provider
  Your #1 Source for Content http://ideamarketers.com

---
Send your feedback to me and I'll post it here with 
your links.
mailto:Editor@HomeBusinessOnline.com

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Editor@HomeBusinessOnline.com

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