As a marketer would you rather be a farmer or a fisherman?

As was suggested by Reem, it all depends on what stage of the product cycle you are in.
However, what I would add is also the level of control you have over the supply of the product and your reach toward the target market.
As a farmer, you would have more control over these factors, yet as a fisherman, you would be in less control, thus challenging you more.
This is where your marketing strategy comes in and where you need to research, observe and analyse the market to know where you stand and where you would like to be.
Only then can you decide.

Marketing as a farmer or a fisherman depends to a large extent on which stage of the product life cycle you're in.
In the early stages you're a farmer because your goal is to grow a customer base.
With time, your initial customer base will have grown and your product will have entered new phases (such as product line extension).
This is when you become a fisherman - a marketer looking for new customers.

We are all familiar with the 80/20 rule.
In most businesses approximately 80% of the proceeds will stem from the top 20% of the client base so a professional marketeer ignores this top tier at their own peril! Successful growth in a mature industry will depend on constantly nurturing existing relationships with an eye to reselling and cross-selling and up-selling to this vital lifeblood of any organisation; while at the same allocating resources and efforts to further building brand equity and expanding market share.
The cheapest and most effective source of new business as well as new business contacts is usually a company's existing relationships; sophisticated marketeers are able to effectively leverage this through effective customer service as well as customized referral programs, bespoke loyalty programs and measured, targeted communications strategies.

A fisherman would plan to hang out by the right pool.
How do you find it? Ask, don't assume.
Too often, only sales and customer service reps talk to real, live customers; marketers tend not to interact directly with the people they are targeting.
So change that: Survey folks on your e-mail or mailing list.
Invite customers to a meal.
Or, just pick up the phone.

Hi Farouk Achoui, Indeed Excellent Topic! * Farmer = Consistency, Steadiness, Stability * Fisherman = Possibilities, Risks, Multiple Options It depends upon the Situation and Circumstances.
For example: * If you are starting-up a “New Venture” OR if you are a “Job Seeker”, then you have to be a Fisherman looking out for Possibilities, Risks, Multiple Options.
* If you are an Employee of an “Organization” OR if have an “Exclusive Established Business” which has Remarkable Scope and Incredible Growth, then you have to be a Farmer looking out for Consistency, Steadiness, Stability.
However, my current status is Fisherman but as Roba Al-Assi said, I am looking forward to become a Farmer.

Farmer, because I feel like you have more capacity to be more creative as your audience is more forgiving.

At first I want to be a farmer and then I work fisherman even expand on my work and fish adult clients in a single package, rather than waiting for them to grow customer :)

i WOULD LIKE TO BE A FISHERNMAN WHEN IAM IN MARKETING & SALES AS I WILL BE ALWAYS HUNTING FOR CATCHING SOME FOOD FOR THE COMPANY (EX ORDERS) & FEED MY COMPANY EMPLOYEES INCLUDING MYSELF.

I agree with Reem as well.
It depends on what stage of the product cycle you're in.
I'd like to add however that as a fisherman, you also need a fall back in case you come home with empty nets.
It would be nice to have a fruit or two to munch on.
Similarly, as a farmer, you can't sit all day watching, waiting for your crops to mature.
I'd prefer to be both.
As a freelance consultant I have to market myself in order to find work.
Sometimes work finds me, which is rare, but it happens.
I must always be on the prowl for new leads (firsherman).
But that doesn't mean neglecting what I clients I already have -- which have to be tended, cultivated and nurtured (framer).
Right now, I farm for the majority of the week, but still fish when I can.