STARTUP LESSONS FROM FISHING: 3 in a series

I just returned from a week of fly fishing on one of California's prime trout rivers, the McCloud. Along side the blue green running water I camped with my best friend. During our long ride up and back in my Jeep we had time to catch up and share a lot of what was going on in our lives. After each day of great fishing, I cooked a delicious camp dinner and we talked further, until we were ready to climb into our sleeping bags and quickly sink into a deep, restful sleep.

Today I thought I'd share with you more of the lessons for startups that you'll find in fishing.

1. Be secretive. Fishers never reveal their secret fishing spot. They keep secret the fly or lure that is attracting the big fish. Startups also keep secrets. Serial entrepreneurs are clever at knowing what to reveal to attract people and what to keep silent about. Stealth startups are elusive until the last minute when the big news such as product launch is announced.
2. Be stealthy. Fishers sneak up on wary trout and hide behind bushes and tall grass. They carefully consider obstacles and distance before casting to a large fish. They move quietly. Startups benefit from stealthy moves. They consider consequences before acting, make their moves deliberate, keep hidden until the time comes to move out to grab the attention of ideal customers and bloggers.
3. Be clever. Fishers use cunning and tricks to outwit fish and wild critters (snakes, bears, spiders and intruding fishers). The fisher's strategy and tactics are carefully chosen to fit the conditions and time of day. Startup leaders are clever at inventing ways to out-maneuver competitors. They create tactical moves that keep the opposition off guard.
4. Be wary. Fishers are constantly on the alert, wary of what might happen to upset the next cast, the next approach to the fish. They know from experience that the unexpected will happen, without advance notice. Startups expect the unexpected. So they make each step with the cautionary attitude that keeps their sensors sharp, alert to sudden changes. That wary mindset is often what keeps the startup out of serious danger.

BOTTOM LINE: Secrecy and its cousins are what fishers and startup leaders use to gain the upper hand in their respective competitions. It is a trait of the serial entrepreneur. Add it to your collection of elements for building your unfair competitive advantage.