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Category: Articles » Self Improvement » Goal Setting » Article » Article Code

Discover What A Failed Hunting Trip Taught Me About Success!

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I remember it like it was yesterday. The last time I went bowhunting. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that this day would give me so many valuable lessons that I applied to my business. Lessons I will now share with you.
 
I won't bore you with too many details of the day. Nor is it my desire at this time to argue the ethics of hunting or for that matter, promote the sport. My goal is simply to share.
 
On this particular October afternoon, the weather was anything but typical. It had rained heavily in the morning. The afternoon, was overcast, and humid. It was unseasonably warm for a Manitoba Fall day, but very enjoyable. Yes the thunder would rumble occasionally, and at times I was briefly pelted by hail. But for whatever it was worth, I was thoroughly enjoying my day.
 
As the day drew near and end, I decided it was time for me to head back to where I parked my truck. I was walking through a hay field that was located at the Northwest side of my Grandparent's farm property. It was about 500 yards wide going North to South and was a half mile long going East to West. The bush this field sat against was also a half mile wide going East to West and over a mile long, North to South. And it was filled with swampy, marshy stretches, and very thick underbrush. However at the East end of the hay field, there was a small trail that went through the bush to the hay field that was the Southeast part of my grandparent's property. And it was there, that my truck was parked.
 
Now at this time it was almost dark. If it wasn't cloudy I would have seen the sun set 30 minutes earlier. As I followed the ATV trail that wove through this field, I made a mistake. I walked into the bush to get to my truck prematurely. As I followed that ATV trail into the bush it quickly became a deer trail, that soon became a squirrel track that ended at a tree. I realized that at this point, I was on the wrong trail. And I had two choices. Turn back the way I came, or, cut through the trees, heading east and intersect the correct trail. I chose to travel through the bush.
 
Now remember that I told you this bush was swampy, marshy and full of thick underbrush. Well it did not take long to come across this barrier. Hey no problem, I will just go around it. And I went around the next one, and the next, and the next.
 
Oh oh.
 
There is nothing that inspires panic more than the sudden, sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realize you are totally and completely lost in the woods after dark. I was almost overwhelmed by panic. I had to force myself to remain calm. I just had to regain my bearings, that's all. As soon as I find North, I am good. And to answer your question no I did not have my compass or a flashlight with me. It was too dark and cloudy to use the sun for my bearings. So I looked at the trees. You know, moss grows on the North side of trees. Well that is a lie. Moss grows wherever the trees stay wet. That wasn't any help what so ever.
 
After that discovery, I turned in a big circle. I wanted to find the big trees. My logic was the biggest trees will be on the edge of the bush. There was less competition for sunlight there, allowing them to grow bigger than the rest. I found them, and I focused on them. I would not take my eyes off them as I headed toward them. I was on course and heading East to where I parked my truck.
 
Now, did I come across the impenetrable underbrush that spun me off my original path? Absolutely. But I was focused on my goal, the big trees. I would not take my eyes off them. And I kept trudging toward those trees that I was positive were beside my truck. By the way, that plan would not work if you are deep in the woods. I got lucky.

Now as I neared the edge, I saw yard lights. I was really confused. You see by heading East as I thought I was, there should have been nothing but hills and trees where those lights were. I was completely baffled, until I came back out in the hay field I originally started from, facing North, not East, and about 100 yards further away from my truck than I was when I started.
 
Now obviously I got out safely or you would not be reading this story. So what lessons does this story teach? Here they are.
 
•	When you embark on a venture, have with you the tools you need to stay on track. I went out without a compass or flashlight to keep me oriented. I became hopelessly lost because of that. 
 
In business your compass are your business plan, financial plan and marketing plan. When you go off track in business, and you will, it is your plans that will allow you to adjust your course back on the correct path. Go into business without your plans, you will get hopelessly lost. 
 
•	You must be focused on your goals. When I entered the woods I had a vague goal. Get to the truck. Because it was a vague goal, the obstacles I came across spun me off track and completely disoriented me. However, when I focused on my end results, refused to take my eyes off the prize, obstacles were no more than detours for me.

What obstacle is currently holding you back? Refocus on your goals, and bypass that obstacle.

•	Conventional wisdom is not always true. Moss grows where ever the tree gets wet. Go figure. Holding on to what everyone else holds to be true can be disastrous to your business. Don't accept anything to be gospel truth until you have tested it for yourself.

•	Shortcuts rarely are shortcuts. I chose to cut through the woods to save time rather than back track and lose time. Then I got spun off track, got lost, got delayed. 
 
Every day you will be offered shortcuts. You may be tempted to take them. Don't. Most shortcuts in business rarely are. They take your focus off your primary goal and use up valuable resources, time and energy. Should you discount all shortcuts. No. Just use your common sense, make sure it is in alignment to your goal, and that the potential reward exceeds the potential risk. 
 
•	Your perception does not always accurately reflect your reality. Remember while I truly believed I was heading East, I was in reality traveling North. My belief was so strong that when I saw the neighbors yard lights in the distance, I was bewildered. It didn't even dawn on me that maybe, just maybe I was heading North. 
 
Are you in denial? Is your perception contradicting your reality? Sometimes it is hard to tell because it is so hard to override our beliefs. But if you change your perspective, gather more facts and data your perception and reality can be more aligned. 
 
•	And finally, "Don't Ever Panic". Panic is an emotional response to fear. Logic on the other hand is the polar opposite of panic. Don't ever allow yourself to go into a panic. Every year we read about hunters who get lost, PANIC, and run pellmell into the woods. Deeper and deeper. Until they finally succumb to either exhaustion or the elements. An organized and logical plan would have saved their lives. 
 
What is happening in your business that is causing you to panic? To make snap decisions. STOP! Take a deep breath, and come up with a logical plan to get back on track. 
 
For the record, I did not bring my quarry home on this hunting trip. The life lessons I learned were far more valuable than venison in my freezer. And now you have these valuable lessons as well.

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