| Attitude and Fishing Are you throwing back the big fish? As an experienced fisherman, Bob decided to help Jeff develop his skills as a fisherman. One morning the two set out for a local pond known to have an abundance of hungry fish. Bob was delighted to catch a fish almost as soon as his hook dropped below water level. Within a few minutes he dropped a two big fish in his ice chest. |
| Jeff was ecstatic to be fishing with Bob because he knew he could learn a lot from him. He dreamt he would have a record catch. He paid close attention to the lures Bob used, how Bob held his rod for a cast, and even tried to match the distance between the hook and sinker. Soon, Jeff caught his first fish, proudly holding it up to Bob’s admiring glance. Then, suddenly, Jeff threw his catch back in the water. “Why did you throw it back?” pleaded Bob. Jeff replied, "My frying pan is too small for it." This story illustrates a truth confronting many of us. We venture into unknown territory with a project or business opportunity expecting great results only to miss out on the opportunity by allowing ourselves to become intimidated by others we perceive to be successful -- or by throwing back true opportunity because we don’t think we are equipped to handle it. Sam Walton was an inexperienced fisherman when he walked the aisles of Kresge’s new concept store in Garden City, Michigan, in 1962. At the time Walton owned a small Army-Navy Surplus Store in Rogers, Arkansas, but he was not intimidated being in the midst of a new venture for one of the world’s largest retailers. He is said to have had a notepad on which he was writing a list of notes about what this first Kmart store was doing to attract and please customers. It was evident to Walton that price was the secret. He would learn that Kmart was able to sell at such low prices because they were ordering merchandise in massive quantities. It was not that this one store could handle large shipments it was that Kmart had hundreds of Kresge five and dime stores to help sell massive quantities of merchandise. Walton could easily have talked himself out of trying to duplicate the success. After all - he only had a little frying pan in Rogers. But Sam knew if he was going to play with the experienced fishermen he needed to figure out a way to “fry” large orders. Be like Walton, have confidence to catch and devour the big fish. Then enjoy the feast of success! |
| About Max Impact Max Impact is a strategy and leadership development company based in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Products and services connect teams to a shared vision of success in a troubled or rebounding economy. For information about Max Impact, visit www.getmaximpact.com, call 248-802-6138, or write info@getmaximpact.com. |
| Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA www.getmaximact.com. |
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