A Lesson From the Ants

My neighborhood must have been built on an ant hill. Every house, including mine, has become a hotel for those pesky black insects every summer. It is a topic of conversation among neighbors and a constant source of irritation for me.  I thought I had them defeated until just a couple weeks ago when I found them AGAIN.

Before I took out my frustrations on them, I watched and I was impressed by what I saw. I went to the computer, researched and found myself discovering many life and business lessons from these creatures that had been driving me crazy.

1)      Ants know the task at hand and work diligently until they complete it. If you have ants and you forget to sweep up one piece of food or crumb, the ants will sense it and began to work at it piece by piece.  You can watch them move from the piece of food back to the area of their nest. Nothing deters them. They know what they want, they know how to do it and they work until it is complete. Ants know the task at hand and work until they complete it.

2)      Ants work well in community. Even though I am an entrepreneur, I am still a member of a community and I still need others to help me flourish. Each self- owned business has an entrepreneur within it working daily to achieve success with the gifts God has given them. When we do not reach out to have others help us in our areas of weakness, our business cannot grow and our dreams can become stunted. Community is vital and the ant knows this.

3)      Ants leave what is not wanted outside of their nest. If you look closely, ants will leave crumbs of what they do not want in a pile close to their nest. They know what is not good for them and they choose to leave it behind. It is extremely important to know what is not good for your business and leave it behind. If there is a task you do not enjoy doing, cut it out. If there are clients you are not clicking with, it may be best for both to cut ties. If you have a colleague who is constantly negative about their business when they talk to you and it is bringing you down, you may need to find someone else to have discussions with for your growth. Ants know what is not needed and leave it behind.

4)      Ants don’t let problems deter them. I feel like my ant battle is constant. When I finally think I have achieved victory and then they return in a different place. My ant a trap, sprays, stomping on them, vacuuming them does not make them stop. They come back. There are going to be people and things that come in your path that make you want to stop. You can’t. You may have to find a different place to show up or a new approach but you have to keep going.  Ants don’t let problems deter them.

Ants are small but mighty creatures. They have a wonderful work ethic and push through everything.  You may be small in mighty among some big giants in the business world but what you do matters. Your business is important because God has given you wonderful gifts that are perfect and of great use to others around you. Work like the ant today. Achieve your goals and let nothing stop you!

 

Alison Gillaspie is a marketing expert who has a deep passion for seeing small businesses and non-profits thrive through correct marketing practices. She loves seeing businesses work through a branding process and embrace their a-ha moment in marketing that is going to make their business succeed. Her marketing technique is very sensitive to the workings of God and the Holy Spirit within each business.

Alison lives in Lexington, KY with her husband and two boys. She loves working with her clients and is ready to work with you today. Check out her website www.DeepRootedMarketing.com for more details of her marketing services that will make your business succeed!