What’s on the iPod: Eight hours of everything we can listen to.
We’re on our way home today. I’m sure I’m still on the “I don’t want to leave” high, but it’s about a minute after I get through customs that I start feeling the workload creeping up. I know I have work to get to tomorrow, so I’ll be jumping right back into it. Maybe not at 8 am like usual, but there will be work. One client is going to send a project, probably while I’m gone, and if I didn’t manage to get the article done on the 31st, I’ll be finishing that up tomorrow.
Today, it’s the ride home down through the Thousand Islands and New York, back into Pennsylvania and home. I love most of the ride — nice scenery and the roads aren’t too crowded. It’s when I get back into PA and onto the northern turnpike extension that things can get too busy. But that’s closer to home, and I have several detours should that happen.
I will avail you of my fishing exploits tomorrow. Today, I’m going to tell you what I’ve learned about business via the bass and northern pike:
Different fish take different bait. What works for a sunfish isn’t necessarily the best thing for a muskellunge. You may catch a big one on a worm, but it’s more likely they’ll go after a lure that looks like a bigger snack. The same with your marketing – sometimes it’s easy to attract a certain kind of client with your marketing. And sometimes it takes a redirect of your message to attract a higher-paying client.
Fish are habitual. Try catching a huge fish at say two in the afternoon. It can be done, but it’s more likely you’ll catch one if you fish when and where they’re feeding. The same goes for clients. If you want to “catch” more business you have to know when and where your clients are; and what it is they want. Rare is the client who changes his or her business model to accommodate outsiders, so learn their habits and find ways to appeal to them.
Little fish stay in the shallows. And sometimes they get gobbled up by bigger fish not afraid to go shallow and deep. If you want a business that grows with its customers, find customers who are positioning themselves to grow, not just stagnate on the sidelines.
Know when to cut bait. Sometimes, the fish wins. You snag on a rock, a log, or the fish is big enough to break a pole or a line (please God, let that happen!). Sometimes that battle just isn’t worth winning or that lure worth saving. The same goes for business — sometimes the client issues are easily fixed and sometimes it’s just not worth it.
Do you fish? Why not? It’s relaxing and fun. Get busy!
What has your favorite hobby taught you about business?
Good morning, Lori. Let's see if I can make Blogger work for me today after I couldn't figure it out last week.
Your comparisons between fishing and working are spot on. I don't fish, I don't play golf, but I do sell stuff as both a vocation and unfortunately it's spilled over to be an avocation, too, but when I catch something I get the positive experience of taking it to the bank where it sometimes grows.
But, then, I've not known anyone who describes the fishing experience as you do, so maybe it's time to take a second look cause it's tacky to drink a beer when in a sales call, while I bet it's part and parcel of the real fishing experience.
Glad you had a great time. Chuck
I've never fished before, Lori, which is crazy considering my grandfather had two fishing ponds on his farm land when I was growing up. I feel like I learned a little something about fishing and freelancing from reading your post. 🙂
From one fisherperson to another you're spot on, Lori. You may not believe this, but I just started drafting a post with the same title. lol Actually, started writing it on my last fishing/camping trip. I guess I will need to rework that. 🙂 But the analogy of fishing and business is so true. I'll make some more comparisons next week to prove that.
Lori- I hate fishing. I think it's really gross when you have to take the fish off the hook.
I LOVE Pennsylvania though. We go to NYC from Michigan as often as possible- often for clients- and I love the "mountainous" areas, as do my kiddos. We recently went to DC and VA Beach, through some of Penn, too. Your state can be very long. "Are we outta Pennsylvania yet? geez"
I don't fish these days, but I have… both trout in the mountains, and commercially for salmon and herring out of San Francisco… good points, although fish are, for the most part, more predictable than fish imo.
Chuck, it's probably also tacky to hook a client with a spinner lure, but I'll let you make that call. 😉
Kim, you probably know more than I do about freelancing, but I'm glad I could teach you a little something about fishing. I hope you try it!
Wade, great minds! I hope you do have a fishing post – I'd love to see your take on it!
Allena, fishing isn't for everyone. My niece, the first time she touched a fish, said "It slobbered on me!" So I get it. 🙂 Yes, we DO have a long state. I go back home and it takes five hours to get there, and I'm not quite the farthest east and they're not the farthest west. Looooong state!
Anne, you're so right about the fish being more predictable. 🙂
I love fishing! I would go fishing every day if I could. Here are a few other lessons fishing has taught me:
Sometimes the smaller fish will nibble your offering without getting the hook. They get your bait and you end up frustrated.
You have to fish where the fish are. If there's no fish where you're fishing, you're not going to catch anything.
Chumming the water attracts fish, but not always the fish you want.
Some fish attack the lure like they're starving, while others look it over before biting. But all fish have to eat sometime.