Business is Like Fishing

Once you have been fortunate enough to catch a fish the next step is to remove the hook (and hopefully release the fish.) Sometimes removing the hook is a very simple process and takes no time at all. Other times the hook may be deep in the mouth of the fish. It may be necessary to use a hook remover as pictured above or a similar tool such as a pliers. There are times when the hook is so embedded that you may use other creative techniques. 1) depending on the fish size and the size of the lure, you may just cut the line and leave a small lure inside the fish. 2) You may push the lure out through the gills and then cut the line. This may cause the least amount of tension and damage on the fish.


In business, we overuse terms such as "out of the box" thinking. However, we need to apply creativity to typical business solutions to find viable answers. Just as removing a hook by pushing it our through the gills, there may be business solutions that don't appear so obvious.

© 2011 Jim Lindell, Thorsten Consulting Group, Inc. - Thor's Hammer Blog

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles.
Doug Larson

One of the best tools to teach principles to others is through the use of simple stories. Our greatest religious leaders have conveyed concepts of heaven, debt, forgiveness, etc. via everyday examples. This too, is the basis of this new blog category.

Why do people fish? Is it enjoyment? Is it for peace and solitude? Is it to make money? Is it to put food on the table? The insight as to why a person invests their time translates into the eventual outcome of the fishing trip. For example, someone that is interested in peace and solitude may care less if they catch any fish. Someone that needs to feed their family is much more determined to catch fish and indifferent to the "peace and solitude." The practical lesson is that a fisherman must know why they are fishing. A different reason for fishing will lead to a different approach and most likely a different level of success.

The same concept applies to all businesses. Why are you in business? Is it to feed your family? Is it to acquire wealth? Is it a way to invest your time? A business leader must have a vision for the business. This vision also impacts the effort, the investment and most likely the eventual success or failure of the business.

This concept also applies to an employee in the same manner. Why does an employee invest their time with a specific employer? Is it for wages? Is it for future advancement? Is it to obtain knowledge, etc? You can be sure that the employee's vision will translate into different levels of performance as well as different career paths.

Therefore our first lesson from fishing is "Have a worthwhile Vision!"

© 2011 Jim Lindell - Thorsten Consulting Group, Inc. - Thor's Hammer