On Fishing

The man in this picture above is fishing. I snapped the picture while standing outside my car. It is about 4 degrees Fahrenheit, and this small lake is frozen over. Personally, I can’t think of anything I would like to do less than stand on the ice and fish. But, there are lessons to be learned everywhere.

First, this guy loves fishing. I have no idea who he is, but anyone who is going to stand on the ice and try to catch a fish has to love fishing. He is unconcerned with any of the external conditions. He is making this attempt, even though it isn’t warm. He just wants to catch a fish. Because he loves to fish, and because he is fishing while other people believe the conditions aren’t right, he has an infinitely greater chance of catching a fish than someone who doesn’t love to fish enough to get out there and get a line in the water.

Second, he is completely unconcerned with what other people think about him, standing on the ice trying to catch a fish. It’s hard to catch a fish this way, and surely there are easier ways to acquire a fish. But while some sit inside and wish they were fishing, never giving themselves a chance to catch a fish and mocking him for standing outside in the cold, he is the only one who may catch a fish.

Third, he knows where fish are. The fish weren’t going to come to him; they are too busy being fish and doing whatever it is fish do. He has made his way to where the fish are, even though it is difficult to get there. He had to spend the time and energy gaining access, crossing the ice, and drilling a hole big enough to drop a line through and big enough to pull a fish out.

Fourth, he knows that fish need things. He has something that is interesting to fish that they will find extremely valuable. They need to eat, and so he is offering them what they need, when they need it, where they need it.

I wish I could come up with some great metaphor about fishing to make this post about sales and selling.

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