The dictionary says niche means “having specific appeal”.  I was thinking about my dog Whidbey, who is part Aussie and part Brittany Spaniel.  She is a little overweight, loves a good steak, and her belly rubbed, and she definitely has “specific appeal”.

 Finding her niche has been easy for her.  She just walks up to anyone who looks interesting, is likely to have food, and waits to see what they will do.  Some people pat her on the head, some give her a treat. Occasionally they ignore her, but not often, because my dog Whidbey knows her niche. 

Her niche is at the local farmer’s market, where sweet treats abound, the recycling center where there is always a doggie treat at check out, and with the friendly neighborhood kids who love to share whatever they are eating.  She is focused, she doesn’t waste her time with people rushing to work, or the pest control people.  She knows her niche and works it.

Wouldn’t it be nice if it was as easy for all of us to find our niche?  You wouldn’t bother those people who didn’t want your services.  You would always be in places where there were people who liked you and wanted to see you.  In fact they might even look forward to seeing you.  That means you would have “specific appeal” and so would they. 

Using my dog’s great perception of her niche as a guide, I have begun to look for those places where I feel I have “specific appeal”.  It has made my work day happier, and the occasional bone that gets thrown my way is always appreciated by my dog.