There is absolutely nothing nicer than a fresh warm spring day spent fly fishing in a burbling Vermont stream. One of my favorite experiences happened last year on the Dog River, one of Vermont’s finest trout streams with an abundant population of brook and brown trout. My morning started full of beautiful scenery but very few strikes. Surprisingly, I loved every minute chasing the elusive native trout. After a while I sat on the river bank and looked at the insects buzzing around me. From a swarm of black bugs one landed on my arm and I realized that a fly I tied the winter before matched the color and size of this prolific bug.
Fly fishing is a great way to relax and cultivate fresh ideas.
I carefully followed the ritual of attaching the new fly to my line using the same technique my father taught me– the same way his father taught him while fishing the AuSable River in Michigan. I picked a dark swirling pool to try and, from that point on, I had the time of my life catching countless feisty trout the rest of the day. I say “countless” because I always fish with barbless hooks that lightly impact the fish. I put them back so they will continue to delight others in the future.
Observation of small details can lead to strategies for success.
It occurred to me that fishing is a lot like my day job of helping businesses grow and succeed through effective use of technology. To be successful at work I have to focus on the world around me, put in the effort to find the right solutions and be willing to continually try new strategies. I’ve learned that prolonged business growth requires consistent effort and change. With renewed focus come great rewards…often at the most unexpected times. Just like fly fishing, I need to sometimes take a deep breath, step back and look around to observe the smallest of details that may lead to a series of successes.
Looking back on four decades of helping businesses prosper, I have learned focusing on the details and using our powers to observe, learn and change will produce positive results throughout the organization and beyond.
