The Crab Syndrome
But every time one of the crabs reached the rim of the basket, another crab would reach out a claw and pull it back in. One crab, named Wayne, was teetering on the rim and managed to fall out just as another crab was preparing to strike. Wayne made it out of the basket! WooHoo!!!
Since you are here at WA, I will assume you are one of the crabs like Wayne, trying to get out of the dreary basket to find your own way to reach freedom and success.
Do you have people in your life who are like the other crabs trying to pull you back into a mundane life? They want you to be just like them. They would not revel in your success. They don’t really want you to get ahead and do everything they can to keep you bound by social norms and a ‘regular’ job. They are naysayers. Please don’t listen to them.
- The other crabs lack vision.
- The other crabs don’t like it when you expand your horizons.
- The other crabs are more comfortable with you where you are -- in the same basket as them.
- The other crabs don’t understand what you are trying to do. And they never will. So don’t try to explain it yet again. It’s falling on deaf ears.
- The other crabs don’t have a clue about internet marketing. These are typically the types who think they are great because they can use email, Skype, and have a Facebook page.
- The other crabs will never see the potential for success beyond their wildest dreams like you do.
So don’t let those crabs pull you down. Stand your ground. I personally try not to even bring it up so I don’t have to listen to how I should get a real job. It’s difficult to argue with those other crabs due to their ignorance (lack of knowledge). So I don’t bother.
I personally don’t like negative people but sometimes they are in your life and you can’t avoid them. When I’m around them, I don't let their negative attitude affect me. I try to get them to be positive about things....then, I’m a dreamer. Okay, I can live with that.
Positive affirmations work wonders for me!
I know one of these days I’ll go so far beyond their wildest dreams that I’ll be able to say "I Told You So!"
Then maybe I’ll recruit them! LOL
If you can relate to this, then you will too!
Recent Comments
27
Really enjoyed your post AnnMarie!
My Dad's somewhat of a crab...lol (and I say that with the utmost respect and love!)
He was raised in Warsaw during WWII. His family had VERY little of anything and worked EXTREMELY hard for the little they had. He was brought up with the mindset to find a "good paying secure job" and stick with it....no matter what! When he raised my sister and I, the same "mindset" applied.
Bottom line, even loving well meaning family members can be the crabs trying to dissuade you. Dad constantly likes to remind me that my sister has a "good secure job". Steady pay cheque, benefits, paid vacations and....oh...drum role please...retirement pension! I'm not knocking anyone for having a steady job with benefits.....we do what we have to do, but that's not MY life goal.
It takes courage to follow your heart and do what inspires you...especially when the well meaning crabs are the people you love.
You are spot on with this, Dee! My whole family and an awful lot of my offline friends are like this. And my Dad was exactly like yours so my fam has the same mindset too with the exception of my nephew who I love to brainstorm with and hang out with since he's practically the only one I know who gets it. Well, he gets it in more offline ways but at least he understands the concept.
Thanks for the comment! :)
Good analogy. Makes it harder when not supported by those close. I think they just can't conceive of IM. It's over their heads. People often get frightened off by the unfamiliar. They wouldn't stick their own
necks out, so can't figure out why you're doing it. You have to be strong and resolute. When you feel strongly about something, just go after it.
Thanks AnneMarie.
I think there's a little bit of jealousy or a feeling of being threatened by the success of others going on in their minds as well...kinda like a "keeping up with the Jonses" thing that other people feel about this too. They don't get it and so can't do it for themselves so they feel they can't 'compete' in the arena of IM and so they lash out with things like rolling their eyes or sarcasm or that old 'here we go again with that online stuff' look on their face.
That's definitely part of it. And many folks want success, but they don't want to pay for it. Sometimes you have to take chances.
Your story about crabs reminded me when I was fishing with a friend in Linwood, NJ on a a tidal river to the bay. I was fishing with my friend and his daughter and I had his deaf grandson on my shoulders. We were catching fish like crazy and Blue Fin Crabs by the bushel. Well, I got a snapping turtle on my line and kicked one of our baskets full of crabs of the bridge. I watched the basket as it drifted away from the bridge. Pretty soon it was down to the rim and I saw all these claws straight up waving in the air. I though of Martin Luther King and the crabs saying, We Are Free, We Are Free. The next thing I did was throw one hundred bucks away when I gave the snapper to a guy in a pickup. He threw that big turtle in the back of his truck and took off. I knew he was heading to a seafood restaurant to sell my missed opportunity. But I was having too much fun. When we were finished, we headed over to my friends house whose wife was from Louisiana and an excellent seafood cook. A great day it was.
Moral: Let the crabs go and keep the turtle (opportunity).
John
Cute! Thanks John...you have lots of stories, don't you ? :) I can see all those crabs doing the 'wave'...hahaha
They were some lucky 'other' crabs...hope they decided to use their new found freedom in a better way! :)
Jesus Christ had an answer for this, it was to stamp the dust off your feet and move on. Great post, Renni!. But I have another comment which I'll put up in a different box. Tnx, John
Ya might know...I liken those "other crabs" to people who have blinders on...like horses during a race...they only see what's directly in front of them and can't widen their vision to see peripherally beyond their dull, ordinary lives.
See more comments
Excellent post, I really enjoyed it.
Thanks Melissa! I think many people can relate...which is sad to say for the "other crabs".