During high school I used to work on a huge turkey farm. One thing that stuck in my head was how turkeys attack others that are different from the flock. If you place a brown turkey in a house of all white turkeys, nothing will be left of the brown turkey come morning.
Kristal Kraft and ARDELL DellaLoggia made reference in comments last week to two sayings that made me think about this again.
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. A Japanese expression.
Tall Poppy Syndrome An Australian term that is very similar in meaning.
This applies so well to business and real estate. Everyone wants to get noticed but if you stand out too much or are a little too different than the crowd, you'll soon be pecked at by others and will be viewed as a wacko. If you make outrageous claims, even if true, most people won't believe you. Stand too tall and people want to cut you down.
The good news is that one doesn't have to go to extremes to be noticed and to make a difference. Incremental differences are enough to stand out from the crowd. Suzanne Marriott mentioned in a comment yesterday a little video called 212 degrees. I saw it a few months ago and it sticks with me. 211 degrees is really hot water. One degree more and that water boils and creates steam that can move a locomotive.
Two other books that fall into this type of thinking are Good to Great 
and Nuts
.
It's fun and exciting to try to be different but I think the money is in being just a little bit different. It just makes people feel a little more secure.
;)
;)
Tim ~ good post. Actually there is a difference in the "nail that stands out" and the "tall poppy syndrome. The point of difference being the nail is about conformity. In Japan it is customary NOT to stand out. They WANT everyone to be the same.
The Tall Poppy syndrome stems from the history of Australia coming from the prisons. When newcomers arrived, they felt and acted better than the original residents because they weren't from the prisons of England. They were "cut down" for their superior behavior. That syndrome was carried forth over the years to include anyone who is rich, famous or acting superior. The Aussies/Kiwis don't like it, so they strike out at the offender. It also works in reverse, when someone thinks they are being discriminated against they accuse others of having the Tall Poppy Syndrome towards them.
The Tall poppy syndrome is alive and well here in the U.S. we just don't call it that. I believe we as Realtors offend the consumer with our haughty ways, bragging about our Awards, driving expensive cars etc. While that maybe important to some, it also can work against us.
I haven't read your "Good to Great" suggestion, but Suzanne's intro about "small incremental differences" makes sense to me. It doesn't take much to stand out in the crowd, show up, do what you say your are going to do and think of others first. Giving or doing 10% more is eons better than the rest of the flock.
kk