Advantages of a Big Fish in a Small Pond

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Published: Aug 16, 2005

Some business people in a small town or city wonder how much better they could be in a larger city. People involved in the big city rat race dream about a simpler life in a small town. There are the fortunate few who have experienced both and feel quite content with their final choice.

Here are seven advantages of being a big fish in a small pond as compared with being a little fish in a big pond.

Smaller investments are required for creating business opportunities. It's less costly to create brand recognition for your product, service, business or your own image. It's easier to amass or garner real estate which is quite satisfying if you are not seeking a rapid asset growth and profits from a higher resale value.
Local celebrity status is easier to attain. Yet, you can escape all the responsibilities and scrutiny associated with being a celebrity simply by traveling a few hundred miles away to anonymity. A positive status extends and reduces the cost of advertising campaigns. Your small business may be perceived as a big business by the local community.
Greater peace of mind is realized from greater comparative values. In the big city you're aware of being compared with so many others with greater fortunes. Swimming in the smaller pond, you experience greater self esteem when you receive greater recognition for your modest accomplishments. Besides, you can do more golfing and fishing.
You have a greater sense of security resulting from more trusting relationships. Respect and expectations for a person's integrity, honesty and reliability are higher in the smaller community. It's easier to spot the bad people and to classify the superficial time-wasters. Risks from terrorist attacks are far less.
You can exercise greater control over your assets, business affairs, personal destiny, social activities and the influences upon your children. You can influence, mitigate and defend against most forces in your surroundings.
The lower costs of living allow you to visit the large cities where you can participate in more activities than you could afford if you were living there. You can afford more toys which tend to attain a higher status value in the smaller town.
You are far more likely to live a healthier lifestyle, breathe cleaner air and benefit from more outdoor sports. These have relatively low costs and result in lower stress levels. Getting stressed out in my small town is definitely a do-it-yourself project.

If you're planning to move out of your big city, investigate why small town business folk seem to have more success adjusting to big city commerce than vice versa. The rat race, your loved ones or your doctor may be telling you to make the effort.

Author Information

Gerry McRae

Creator of UncleMaxSays.com and author of "Time Management for Entrepreneurs - What to do, When & Why".

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