Lessons I learn on the river apply to many facets of my life. Today, I compare business writing to my favorite pastime.
Patience
In order to be a good fishermen you must have patience. I have experienced numerous days where I will wait hours for that one bite. It’s tempting to leave a spot and go looking for fish, but if you have confidence in what you’re doing it will be just a matter of time for that strike to happen. The same is true in business. Much of the content I write today will not produce cash flow for weeks or months. I need to have confidence in what I’m offering and that my offer is right for the situation. I strive to make it easy for my targeted customer to find me. However, they must need what I’m offering, and reality dictates that won’t happen often. Within a given day hundreds or even thousands of fish will swim by your bait, but 99% won’t be interested. A successful day of Salmon or Steelhead fishing only requires one or two bites. A 25lb fish goes a long way in feeding my family. So is the case with customers. Land the right ones and your table is full. In our instant gratification society waiting is not something were use to, and possibly this is why studies show less young people are taking up the sport of fishing.
Presentation
There are numerous considerations and multiple combinations in choosing the correct lure and presentation for Salmon and Steelhead fishing. To the untrained eye it often looks simple. When I take a friend out for the first time they usually don’t realize all that goes into my decision process. Water temperature, light conditions, depth, current, weather, and tidal changes are just a few of the things to consider. When someone does something well the presentation just flows. As a business owner it is extremely important you’re making the
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right presentation. I witness too many companies put out content for content sake. They do not consider their target audience and what factors could put them in a buying mood. If the content isn’t reaching the correct audience or is written poorly it won’t attract any customers. The old saying, “10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish” has some merit. There are many people who fish for Salmon and Steelhead days on end with nary a bite. It can be very frustrating and it is why I recommend that a newbie go with someone experienced to learn the ropes. Business owners would do well with the same advice for their content management. What my friend notices is a pole handed to him and cast to a certain spot. Often he will say, “that was easy” or “man we were lucky”. Frankly, luck and ease doesn’t play into the equation and neither should it for your business.
Preparation
The night before a fishing trip you will find me on the Internet studying the latest river levels, barometric pressure and water temperatures. Based on that information I will tie up numerous rigs, color combinations and lure sizes. I always prepare more than necessary and have a wide variety available. My days to go to the river are limited and I want have the best possible outcome. The same goes for business, because there is limited opportunity to interact with future customers. Your competition is literally at everyone’s fingertips, and our ability to change our minds with a simple click make it imperative that you do your homework. When you hire someone to write content make sure to provide complete data on your ideal customer. Extensive preparation will give you the best opportunity to land the big one.
Does this analogy make sense to you? What are your hobbies? Can you make a similar analogy? Leave me a comment below.