While driving home alone from three days of fly fishing I had eight hours to think about what in my fly fishing experience could benefit you startup mavericks out there. Here are a couple to dwell on:
- Plan but let it remain an adventure. I had obtained insider information from locals and guides about the river and fishing conditions concerning my favorite water. My flies and rods and lines and leaders were selected and ready for action. My clothes, boots and waders were packed for the full range of weather predicted (full sun to cloudy to rain, sleet and snow, warm temperatures plunging to below freezing). And I had reviewed my fishing journal, noted tips and lessons learned on prior trips. All was summarized in my head in the form of a plan for the fishing. I remained open to whatever might happen, got excited about the possibilities of surprises good and bad, and relaxed. I finished packing my Jeep, set my alarm for 3:00 a.m. and went to bed in our guest room. Startup leaders plan and prepare in depth, yet keep their mindset open to the coming adventure.
- Adjust to the conditions. The water turned out to be free of fishers, with only two spotted in the four miles of water during day one. Day two I was alone. Day one was rainy and warm. The water was a cool but acceptable 55F (trout are active only between 52 and 62F). Bugs started hatching from the water around 11:00 a.m. and the final variety stopped at 3:00 p.m. I changed flies to match the hatches. I kept my wet flies (nymphs) deep in the cold water because the warmer temp is just off the bottom and that's where the big fish lie, waiting for bugs to grab. Top water bugs (dry flies) remained in my fly box, unused, except for one special pattern I decided to experiment with. I looked for fall fish spawning (big brown trout) and the greedy rainbows feeding behind the pair as some of their eggs drift down to feed the hungry bows. Startup veterans immediately adjust their plan to fit the situation. They treat the plan as organic, changing it daily.
- Act with confidence. I found when I fished a fly that I doubted would attract a fish that I it did not. When I acted with confidence, I caught fish. Similarly when I cast to a section of water I was certain contained fish (they are not visible to the eye), I caught fish (and visa versa). Startup leaders learn that doubt is a great hindrance to success. Be realist, not arrogant but definitely act with confidence.
Tomorrow I'll give you a couple more to dwell on.
BOTTOM LINE: Serial entrepreneurs plan their enterprises yet keep them an adventure. Once started, they adjust daily to the conditions they encounter, including surprises good and bad. And they do their work with confidence, without doubt. Those are characteristics of what it takes to be one of the startup greats. Learn to do that and you'll be on your way to building a startup with an unfair competitive advantage.
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