Lesson #15: Do as the Ants Do

I spent the morning outside, cleaning my bird's cage and re-potting some of my plants. I had an old and (what I thought to be) empty flower pot that was upside-down by my back porch. I picked it up from the bottom (its bottom) with both hands, and out poured a huge ant bed. The pot is at least eighteen inches tall, and it was completely filled with ants. "Ooh! Hello, ants. You're about to see the Great Flood of '07." I got the water hose, demolished their little colony, and went back to work.

About an hour later, while gathering my things from the porch to go back inside, I looked down and saw the ants had already started to rebuild. "Dang, ants." I sat down on the steps for a minute, amazed at the amount of work they had already accomplished. I watched them busy at work and thought how quickly they had regrouped. It was about to rain, which under the circumstances (or even without the circumstances), would have been plenty of reason for me to delay rebuilding until tomorrow (at least). Yet, they were hard at work, each handling his own job without delay or hesitation. There were no ants sitting on the sidelines whining about the pending rain or about the fact that their magnificent former home was in ruins. They weren't all standing around debating where or when to rebuild. They were just doing what needed to be done.

I wished I had their resolve and thought for a second how far I'd be if I did. "Hmm," I laughed.

I'm back inside now, but I'm still thinking about those dang ants. If I only tackled my own challenges that way, I'd get this thing off the ground so fast, I think my own head would spin. Imagine if, when confronted with our own "little disasters" or even just every day, we'd just get up and do what needed to be done.

Hmm.

Posted by Amber Riviere on 03/31/2007 11:37 AM

Comments (23)

ants, resolve, challenges, setbacks

23 Comments on Lesson #15: Do as the Ants Do

Good, positive post Amber. If only we had the resolve of those tough, little creatures, how productive our lives would be!

03/31/2007 12:02 PM

by Christopher Smith (Traditions Real Estate)

No kidding, Christopher! If I could be an ant just half of the time, I would probably still get more done than I do as a full-time human!

03/31/2007 12:08 PM

by Amber Riviere (411 Real Estate Place & Cenla Moves, LLC)

Great lesson to learn every day - thanks for the uplifting post

03/31/2007 12:14 PM

by Central Oregon Real Estate | Thesa Chambers, Broker (RE/MAX Sunset Realty La Pine)

Thanks, Thesa. Isn't it funny how it's possible to find inspiration in the smallest things?

03/31/2007 01:00 PM

by Amber Riviere (411 Real Estate Place & Cenla Moves, LLC)

Amber

Great observation of what's around that will teach us lessons in life.

How many ants were there? and what was their purpose? -Oh yeah accountability helps too!

They have a team and work toward their definite purpose pursue w/o letting challenges get in the way. Doesn't this sound familiar? its from....... the book you and I are reading and as a matter of fact you have just illustrated the point in another way --excellente!

Lets keep doing the ordinary to build an extraordinary business. Little steps --are you sore yet?

03/31/2007 01:08 PM

by Aziz Abdur-Raoof,Howard Co. Real Estate Scoop (RE/MAX Rewards)

GREAT blog! Those ants are determined! I wish I had more drive and was less of a procrastinator!

03/31/2007 01:21 PM

by Adam Tarr ABR,ePro, Assoc. Broker (RE/MAX Excalibur)

Hi Amber, this post reminds me of the stories in the book "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau :-)

03/31/2007 01:47 PM

by Michael Hutchins - Consumer Advocate, Chicago (Michael Hutchins Ent.)

How true How true!

03/31/2007 05:40 PM

by Erika Dewar (Zip Realty)

Aziz ~ There were a gazillion, and their purpose was to build a house bigger than mine, maybe to engulf mine. Oh, and baby steps to the extraordinary business! I agree. :)

Sharon ~ Thanks, and I'm with you!

Michael ~ Who wouldn't want to be compared to Thoreau? Great compliment! Thanks!

Erika ~ Thanks for stopping by!

03/31/2007 05:47 PM

by Amber Riviere (411 Real Estate Place & Cenla Moves, LLC)

Amber, can I hire you to write for me? I am thinking about a couple of more websites. Eric

03/31/2007 07:26 PM

by Eric Bouler (Prudential Gardner)

Well, Amber, if you or I had those gazillions of workers working for us, like the Queen Ant does, we could accomplish much as well. (Or it is just a Queen Bee, and not a Queen Ant?)

03/31/2007 07:32 PM

by Sharon Simms St Pete Florida CRS CIPS CLHMS (RE/MAX Metro)

Eric ~ What did you have in mind?

Sharon ~ I think there's a Queen Ant, too. Maybe that's what we need - a team. Until then, I still need the dedication of the worker ants. :)

03/31/2007 07:46 PM

by Amber Riviere (411 Real Estate Place & Cenla Moves, LLC)

......Imagine if, when confronted with our own "little disasters" or even just every day, we'd just get up and do what needed to be done.....with the help of a million others like me. That would be AMAZING!!! Nice food for thought Amber, thanks.

03/31/2007 09:23 PM

by Rick & Ines - Miami Shores Real Estate (Majestic Properties)

Thanks, Ines! Yes, that would be amazing! We might even manage to get those days off we've been wanting!

04/01/2007 09:15 AM

by Amber Riviere (411 Real Estate Place & Cenla Moves, LLC)

Amber, I think the lesson from your post is very powerful and it is that THERE IS POWER IN NUMBERS. Yes those little ants are determined, but what would determination accomplish if there were only 3 of them? It would be great to join forces with a group of highly motivated and determined individuals in our daily work - the task is not easy.

04/01/2007 09:42 AM

by Rick & Ines - Miami Shores Real Estate (Majestic Properties)

Thanks for the reminder that sometimes we,as the so-called 'evolved' life form we are, spend to much time analyzing and planning, and overthinking. Instead of just "doing." Nice lesson from the ant colony for the human colony.

04/01/2007 10:04 AM

by Tina Howell, Realtor® Frisco & Celina Real Estate (RE/MAX First Realty II)

Ines ~ I can't wait for the day I finally have a team. It is definitely not an easy task.

Tina ~ Sometimes I wonder why we're actually considered the highest or most intelligent of all the creatures. There are many times when I think the ants and other "lesser" creatures are the ones that really have it all figured out.

04/01/2007 05:06 PM

by Amber Riviere (411 Real Estate Place & Cenla Moves, LLC)

Amber

I heard a discussion topic on ENERGY yesterday and thought of you -- it was very interesting and I am wondering how I can get it to you. I might be able to send it electronically through iTunes.

Actually --I should blog about the subject b/c it effects us all(energy that is) --actually the topic was about restoring energy.

I am on a mission and you helped to continue to spur it on(Thank you) -- part of it is RE -reading Think and Grow Rich and applying it in my life and doing the execises and the other is to journal -- I am scheduled to speak to 300 students in three weeks and want to to suggest to them the power of journaling so I needed to do it myself before I can talk about it.

WOW -I just saw Tina's comment and it reminded me of the old commercial by NIKE - Just do it!

Oh by the way --do you know what ants think of us? (we need The Prophet Solomon's ability to communicate with the animals) if they blogged or if we were able to communicate with them --they may say we are the lesser creatures -- actaully according to my belief system we were given a great blessing which is to take care of the Earth -- we have CHOICES -- and need to think beyond what we can see with our EYES and how our present life could effect the next.

Amber -thxs for your post --it has rejuvenated me and reminded me of what's important. Also --thank you for allowing me to share with you.

Peace be with you!

04/01/2007 09:41 PM

by Aziz Abdur-Raoof,Howard Co. Real Estate Scoop (RE/MAX Rewards)

Hey Aziz,

If you decide to blog about that energy topic you mentioned, please send me the link. If you can save it to your computer, you can send it to me through YouSendIt.com. It's a free service that can carry large files, such as audio.

I've only been trying to keep myself spurred on, but if that has helped you in some way, I'm very glad to hear that! :) Journaling is definitely a very powerful thing, and I have been trying my best to get into the daily habit. You should read, Write It Down, Make It Happen. That should help you with that speech. If a person doesn't start writing everyday after reading that book, nothing will make them believe in the power of it.

I agree that we were put here to take care of the lesser creatures, but I think THEY think that may have been a bad idea sometimes. :)

Thanks, Aziz! I always enjoy reading your comments!

04/02/2007 07:37 AM

by Amber Riviere (411 Real Estate Place & Cenla Moves, LLC)

Amber

Give me a day or two --I will try and get this sent to you.

You have found your blogging voice and I enjoy reading your posts.

Thank you!

MUCHOS KUDOS

04/02/2007 11:04 PM

by Aziz Abdur-Raoof,Howard Co. Real Estate Scoop (RE/MAX Rewards)

Thanks, Aziz!

04/03/2007 07:25 AM

by Amber Riviere (411 Real Estate Place & Cenla Moves, LLC)

Great post Amber. I've spent much time as a kid watching ants. They always amazed me.

But there is something to be said about being smart enough to prepare for certain problems and looking for the easy way to do things. Ants could control the world if they just added a little smart planning to their impressive work ethic.

04/03/2007 04:10 PM

by Tim . (HomeAtlanta.com)

You're right, Tim. If I could mix my planning with their work ethic, I could create an amazing business, maybe not rule the world, but I'd be satisfied. :)

04/03/2007 04:17 PM

by Amber Riviere (411 Real Estate Place & Cenla Moves, LLC)

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