When a single crab is put into a lidless bucket, it surely can, and will, escape.  However, when more than one crab share a bucket, none of them can get out.  If one crab elevates itself above the others, the others will grab this crab and pull it back down into the pot to share the fate of the of the entire group.

~Urban Dictionary

You have heard this story and perhaps like me you smile at it and then move on.  Recently I have witnessed this effect with some regularity both in business and in my personal life.  Since my business is about helping the people create lives and business that they love, I find the “crab bucket” effect to be alarming.  Not only that, I find it puzzling as well.  Why do good people do this?

I am bringing this up so that you will become aware of it and put a stop to it, if this is happening to you.  It usually goes like this: someone decides that he wants to start a new business, one that will be fun and profitable.  He talks to his friends about it.  They think his new business is a fool’s folly.  They spend time telling him how it won’t work.  They wear him down with all of their evidence that the new business is an awful idea.  He leaves the conversation defeated and gives up the idea.  The crab bucket won!  Another crab is pulled back into the pot.

If this is happening to you, I recommend that you stop putting your self in the crab bucket. You have some great ideas and you can achieve what you want to do.  Surround yourself with people who you trust and want you to succeed.  Be selective about who you talk to you about your idea.  Walk away from the naysayers.  If you have no one like that in your life then seek some outside assistance.  The best and easiest way to get support for your idea is to talk with people who have already forged new businesses, people who went outside the norm to create something.  Research your idea on the internet, read everything you can about it.  Talk to your future customers to hear what they have to say about your idea.  There are also professionals who can help you develop an action plan.  One of the best organizations in the U.S to offer you support is your local SCORE chapter which offers free advice and mentoring to entrepreneurs.  To find out more about it and to locate a Score chapter in your area, click here http://www.score.org/

If you are in Canada look here http://sbinfocanada.about.com/

Now, its your turn.  What has happened to you when you found out that you were in the “crab bucket” and what did you do to get out?  I look forward to hearing from you!

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
•