There is something known as a cave angelfish that resides solely in cave waterfalls. They use microscopic hooks on its fins to hang onto the cave wall, and intercept nutritious particles that are literally falling on top of them in the waterfall. As far as we know, they only exist in two individual waterfalls, both in Thailand.

Schools of dolphin work in teams to drive shoals of mackerel towards the surface of the water, trapping them. Waiting above, sea birds pick them off, diving up to 20 meters down into the waters. An efficient system. The birds would not eat without the help of dolphins. And at the end of the day, the mackerel are still great in number.

The rainforests are a powerful demonstration of the 80/20 principle. They cover only 3% of the surface of the earth, but contain more than 50% of all known species of animal. And millions of species of insect -- we have no idea how many exactly.

The tropical rainforests are also the most balanced ecosystem on the planet. There is an animal, plant, or fungus to fulfill every possible role. Everything works in perfect harmony.

When you think about money, our global economy is a pathetic parody of the real global economy that has been going on for millions of years, long before we reared our ugly mugs.

The best niche marketer of them all? Mother Nature.

If you look at the climate around the globe, you could make a few obvious-dumb observations... like noticing that if in a given environment, circumstances allow trees to grow... trees grow there. That’s just how nature works.

If there is room to be filled, it will get filled pretty fast. If nature no longer has any need to fulfill a particular function in a particular way, whatever fulfills that role will go away. Extinct.

Kind of like when wantrepreneurs want to create products that no one really wants.

In Episode 8 of David Attenborough’s “Planet Earth,” he makes the observation that “the key to success in the rainforest is specialization.”

There is a type of fungi that will infect an insect’s body and brain, kill it from the inside-out, and then grow mushrooms through its head. There is an individual species of fungi for each individual insect. One for ants, one for beetles, etc.

The fungi infection is also highly contageous. It can wipe out entire ant colonies.

Specialization. A key to success as a marketer, too. It’s much easier to sell a low-carb diet to diabetic females over 45, for instance, than trying to sell “weight loss” to anyone who is overweight.

I could go on forever. I just finished watching the 11 episodes of Planet Earth. It’s the highest rated TV series of all time according to IMDB. Thought I would see what all the fuss was about.

My head is spinning with marketing ideas from Mother Earth.

If you want to sell stuff anywhere to anyone, check out the series. Eye opening to say the least. I would argue it’s a must-watch for any serious marketer.

If you want proven ideas, try emulating what has been successful for MILLIONS of years.

photo credit: Tjflex2