We were invited to the river by good friends on the weekend. They have access to one of the best river spots in our region and we have spent many days here enjoying the good fishing spot and great company. It is winter now so the optimism to catch a big carp was palpable. We arrived early and wasted no time preparing the rods. Before I continue I must explain that my sons take baiting up very seriously. After they baited up they spend the next 10 minutes “grooming” this bait. They give it different flavors that they put on carefully, to be honest it looks like a mess every time. They put on every flavor possible, then when they are satisfied with the result they ask me to cast for them. The spot where they catch is a little further than they can cast.
The fishing was slow to start, and their enthusiasm was clear for all to see. They kept asking when they could bait up again. I of course told them that the lines are in, and they should wait, but eventually I gave in and told them they could bait up again. So, they baited up and I cast and after what felt like a very short time to me the question came, when are the fish going to bite, dad? I explained, like I had many times before, that patience is a virtue and that if they could be patient, I am sure they would be successful. Then not long after, “when can we bait up again?” By now I was a little irritated and just gave in and said you can bait up whenever you want. They did not waste time and baited up again, immediately! Grooming the bait just the same as the first time, not too long ago.
Before I continue I should tell you that we were three adult men who were doing things like we knew best, waiting it out because the bait is in the water and if the fish pass by they will pick it up. Like we had been taught. And of course, my two sons, youngsters doing everything their own way and not exactly the conventional way.
After the third cast for the morning each, magic started happening for these two boys! They started having runs and catching fish. They caught their own personal bests each and continued grooming their bait the same way and being as inpatient as before and of course continued catching fish. The three adult men? Well let us just say we had a good time in each other’s fellowship, because there is nothing else to say. We caught nothing!
This got me thinking. This story is actually a very good metaphor for business. It is easy to fall into the trap of doing things, “like we were taught to.” Or doing things like we have been doing it in the past. We wrongly assume that if we do what we have been doing all along we will get what we have been getting. Like in the story the three grown men (myself included), new that we were doing the right thing and that eventually we would be rewarded. But on this specific day we were not getting the results. This specific day needed different thinking – a different way of doing things. My sons had a different energy, an excitement and a believe that they were going to catch something. Their preparation of the bait was so elaborate that they drew the attention to their hooks. They demanded the attention of the passing fish.
In business this is what you must do! You must be innovative. You must draw the attention to you. Business conditions change consistently, now more than ever. You must adapt and get the customers attention every day! Doing what you always have will leave you stranded. Find new ways to draw attention to your business or product. Take uncomfortable action and put draw attention. Those who consistently adapt best to changing conditions, will always prevail.
TAKE ACTION, if you need help with your business do not hesitate to call me. All businesses have unlimited potential waiting to be unearthed. Massive action leads to massive results!
