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Standing out from the crowd.... good or bad?

My owner is a marketing & business consultant in San Diego. After falling down the stairs late yesterday at a home with which I was not familiar, I decided to go to an accessible golf course lake that I knew well and just watch the duckies enjoying the beautiful, sunny late afternoon.

It is during these types of activities that I often get pictures that just cry out for a marketing use with a good tagline, and yesterday did not disappoint.

I once worked as a consultant for a person who's theory for life was "Any publicity is better than no publicity," and he did all he could to work in those gray areas that might get him publicity. I might also say that he was successful, both in garnering publicity and selling his services, and he did it by standing out from his competition, regardless of whether or not standing out in his case could be considered good or bad.

One of yesterday's pictures from the Chula Vista Golf Course lake is the epitome of standing out from the crowd:

Standing out from the crowd

Personally, I like to stand out from the crowd for good reasons, but following are two examples of people who stood out from the crowd. You decide whether their standing out was good or bad.

Bernie Madoff
Mother Theresa

Let's delve into how you stand out from the crowd. Remember that Warren Buffet said last year, "If everyone is doing something, do something else." These are things that "everyone" is doing, so how do YOU stand out if you are just one of everyone doing it?

ActiveRain
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Time to sit down and do some serious thinking?

We are ActiveRain!

**********

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Posted by Russel Ray, San Diego Marketing & Business Consultant on 10/27/2009 05:31 AM

Comments (25)

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25 Comments on Standing out from the crowd.... good or bad?

OCT

That is good advice! I hope you didn't "half kill" yourself falling down the stairs! Sometimes the next day after a fall is worse than right after it. Be careful, my friend!

Dick and Dixie

Oh Russel, glad you are ok after that fall! But oh what a picture that is. Brings plenty to mind, LOL. That is a "stand out from the crowd" photo if I ever saw one!

Russel,

No question about it, the one who stands out, gets the attention, but hopefully as you carefully point out for "good reasons".

Brian

Good advice. Thanks for reminding me of the need to move out of the crowd. Like the old saying goes "the squeaky wheel gets the grease", so do you need to make some "noise" to be notice. Social Web sites, internet sites, and other media is a great way to make positive "noise".

Hope you are okay today Russel, as a "falling" expert, Dick and Dixie are accurate. What you thought was okay after the fall, flares up the next day and sometimes day 3 is the worst!

Thought provoking post......because it was yes to six of the seven....obviously we are running with the pack. Already sitting down, now for the thinking part.....

Take care

Russel - I do hope you're okay after the fall. I've missed the step and taken a tumble into a sunken living room & really felt it the next day. Great example of "standing out from the crowd."

Russel, I hope you're okay after that fall you took. I agree that it is necessary to set yourself apart from other professionals in your field. I DO love that picture and thank you for making me think about my business / and necessary changes today!

Russel - I so enjoy the Chula Vista Golf Course and feed the ducks every time I am there. What a fun photo. It makes me smile ... quacks me up you could say. I do hope you are ok from the fall. I took a fall the other day myself ... whew was I sore for a day or two ...do take care of yourself ... be well and keep taking photos and sharing with us.

I know that we all like to stand out in the crowd in some fashion or another. I just don't want to be Bernie.....gross!

Dear Russel,

Thanks for the great photo and solid advice. I am sorry to hear you fell. I hope you are alright!

Betina

Russel, I'm so sorry to hear you fell, I hope you are feeling ok. That picture with the caption is perfect. Actually, you post leaves me a lot to think about. Perhaps I am just doing the "usual" things which would not at all make me stand out in the crowd in a good way..........

Hi Russel, I hope you are okay after that fall. I am just getting used to Active Rain, and have signed up for Twitter but have not really used it. I'm using Facebook a little. I feel like I'm just getting my feet wet.

Did you plant that Duck in that picture you crafty photographer you ? Birds of a feather sometimes flock apart,hmmm ?

Russell - great photo, I see how it inspired you. I agree, it's important to stand out from the crowd with your marketing efforts - in a good way. I think we have been able to do that with our business and always strive to be the best at what we do.

Russel,

Very thought provoking. I think it's good to stand out from the crowd as long as you're not breaking any laws like Bernie. I try to stand out by just being myself. I'm a different person, and I think that comes through in most things I do. How you are different is a very good question to answer for yourself. I'll have to think a little more about it. I think it would be worse to be left behind in the dust of social media than do it like everyone else is.

Hi Russel - Excellent advice. I get all kinds of marketing ideas and if I tell someone, I will usually hear, "That won't work - no one does that." So I do it and it works for me. That was the response I got when I started blogging. If I'd listened to all the folks that told me it was a waste of time, I wouldn't be on AR and I would have missed out on quite a few transactions that have come from AR.

Hey, Russel. Great advice. You always have to stand out or you will get lost. Thanks, Jim

Hi, Russel. I'm glad you didn't trip over your cat!

Another great picture; you have such a good "eye." In this part of the world where almost every listing is a horse property, almost every realtor is an "equestrian specialist." It's not easy to find a way to stand out in the crowd.

Is this kind of like the farmer who is outstanding in his field? ; ))

Russell - Good points. Its important to stand out from your competition, but in a good way. We have a mortgage guy out here that does commercials on a local channel. His attitude drives me nuts. If I were in the market, I would not use him. However, I know people know his name... so it must be working. I'm sure some people will use him because of that.

Russel I am glad you weren't seriously injured. It is always good to take a break especially in great surroundings.

Your question about how to stand out is worth pondering. Thank you.

OCT

Russel, Your post reminded me of a young MD's story about how Mother Teresa 'schooled him' on the treatment of the sick when he visited India in the mid 70's. He described her 'results' oriented method of treating a man with terrible infection in his arm. I won't go into the details. It's suffice to say, She truly stood up and stood our for GOOD. Glad you're standing after your fall.

Hi Russel, Thanks for the post! When are going to do more symbols?? I am addicted! ☼ Kathy ♥

Russel,

He/she certainly is standing out from the crowd. Yes, serious thinking needed. ;-)

Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO

NOV

Hey, Folks - Thanks for stopping by. I'll be by your places to visit soon.

I had no ill effects from my tumble down the stairs. However, I should have remembered my wise old grandmother's words of wisdom when she warned me after each problem or difficulty that they occur in groups of three.

During my three-day first anniversary weekend celebration, I took two more tumbles, one downtown on Harbor Island trying to get some good pictures of the downtown San Diego skyline since it was an ultraclear, sunny, dark blue-sky day. A stupid parking bollard got in the way of my feet.

The other was over in Joshua Tree National Monument where some pesky boulders jumped onto the dirt path I was on, said hello to my feet, and then took off after taking me down. Got a nasty gash on my wrist.

Fortunately, in all cases, I took the brunt of the falls in order to protect my traveling company, Mr. Canon Rebel XSi. What won't we do for friends?

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