At first glance, this title conjures up vision of the popular business book of a similar name, or the movie Wall Street. For many our industry is seen to be full of "sharks".
Well, 99.5% of this post has nothing to do with neither sales nor real estate. For those who want a connection skip to the end where I will tie the .5%.
Some years ago I was presented a cool opportunity. While honeymooning with my wife in Bora Bora, we ventured out on a "Shark Feeding Snorkel Tour". We thought, "This will be great! Hop in a boat, go watch some reef shark feeding, then off for a little snorkeling in the lagoon."
All excited, gear in hand the boat shuttles out to the first stop. No sooner did the engines stop then the first fin comes cutting through the water in front of the boat. The first mate hops out with a bucket in one hand and a long yellow piece of rope in the other. We are all watching as more and more sharks begin to show up in front of the boat.
In broken English "Ok, get your gear on and jump in".
"Huh??" my wife and I look at each other our eyes as big as plates.
"Oh my" gasps the older couple from Australia as the woman almost feints.
"No cage?" I ask as we jump in the water. At his point the first mate has tied the yellow rope between two coral heads, and is throwing dead fish into the water on the other side.
"No, you hold on to the rope to help keep you underwater. You stay on this side, they will stay on that side."
So there we are, one hand holding our heads underwater, the other trying to snap pictures while 25-30 six foot reef sharks circle around eating fish. They would take a bite, and every so often one would turn look, and start swimming straight at us. Right as it would reach the yellow line, it would veer off and turn around. One of the larger sharks came so fast, and close I flinched, when trying to snap the picture.
That is when it came to me (here is your .5% tie in). These formidable, and potentially deadly creatures, were actually scared of us. I waved my hand at the next shark to come at us, and he shot off "like a scared rabbit".
Sharks are potentially very deadly, and very dangerous. The qualifier here is potentially. Ever noticed that most attacks occur when someone is just surfing or swimming basically minding their own business? The same holds true for business professionals. Many can be very dangerous, and potentially deadly to a deal, your career or reputation. You need to know and understand when you are in the water with sharks; once you do you can keep an eye out and keep them on their side of the yellow line.
Jeff - Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read my post. It was a fun event, and does relate to Commercial Real Estate here in Michigan.
Gary - I knew there was a mischievous side to you. That is hilarious, and the exact same type of thing that I do with those agents and brokers (and clients) with a bad attitude or shark like approach. Leasing and selling commercial office space here in Michigan is quite the event also.
That is so funny! I came across this in a search on Tahiti. Did you have fun?
I don't think I'd have the guts to get in the water! In real life, unfortunately, you are absolutely correct about us dealing with the sharks in business. You just have to realize that they have lines that they are afraid to cross!
~Renae
Mary, We had the time of our lives! We had big intentions to make it back for our 10th and then 15th.
Renae, Well put. Many people don't realize it is 'all show' or fear.
Great advice in today's climate. It sounds like you had fun.
James, So true and yes I have had a few sharks try to take my head off. I have never found a line that they would not cross.
Don,
Thanks for reading. There is no doubt that some will cross the line and that there is real potential danger. I found that these were afraid. I think with many seemingly fierce (but in fact dangerous) 'animals' the more familiar they get with a situation, the more likely they are to cross that line.