We had so much fun kayaking last week, we decided to go again. 
It was a bit warmer, the water was clearer and there were a lot more people.
We set out on the 8-mile trip down the Delaware River. There are two islands you pass on the left as you go down the river.
We stopped at the first island to eat lunch. I think everyone had the same idea and the very small “beach” got very crowded and we quickly left.
As we got into our kayaks, I suggested we leave the main branch of the river and instead go around the island. Last week we stayed with everyone else.
My husband warned us…”It’s probably going to be more paddling, since we won’t be on the main river and the current will be slower.” I decided that I was up for the risk and challenge.
It was beautiful. We were alone. We saw a small inlet and enjoyed the rest of our lunch. We found and paddled around another island. It was almost an island within the island. We wondered if we would find our way out. We kept reassuring ourselves that the river only runs one way and all we had to do was keep following the current.
We saw two blue herons. They took flight and guided us the last few feet until we suddenly came back out to the main river.
As we rejoined the main river I thought, “Yes, that was worth the risk.” It was more paddling. It took us longer to reach the destination. We did it our way and it came out just right.
As I paddled I started thinking about how I seem to find lessons for my business wherever I look, and the same thing happened here.
There is such a tendency to follow the crowd. It’s tried and true. And, if you do what your instructed to do, you are pretty well assured a certain result. And something else, there is a sense of comfort and safety that goes with being part of a group; in this case the crowd was staying on the main river and to the left of the island.
The question is, is the group that you are following and the strategies and tactics you are being presented with, right for you, your business and the direction you want to go in?
Sure they may work, but will they take you where you want to go and in a way that you want to get there?
Sometimes what’s right for you will require more work, and may be more risky. Are you willing to take that risk? Are you willing to say NO to what everyone else is doing and forge the path that’s right for you?
And one more thing, remember those blue herons? We saw them just when we were starting to think that we were crazy and may have to find our way back paddling up river, against the flow of the river.
When you take a risk, look for the current, it will always be there, as will the mentors and guides you need to help you find your way even (or maybe especially) as you create your own path.
What would your business look like if you took a left when everyone else took a right? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Carrie…..your story really resonated with me. I have a history of being a canoe racer in the past and my husband (my co-paddler) and I had to navigate the water amidst all of our competitors, without tipping while looking for the current that would get us ahead of the pack. It was stressful and dangerous.
What I learned was my preference is not to race ( I am not a natural competitor), but to simply paddle for the enjoyment of it, following the direction that felt right and enjoying the ride.
The same is true in mine and David’s business. Although we can learn some techniques from others, going our own way that is right for us, right now, feels much better.
Kate,
I love when I find out cool things about people I thought I knew… I had no idea you were a competitive canoe racer. There is a lot to be said about competition & learning from other but I think in the end it’s about designing our own race & winning that one. Thanks for sharing your insights!
Carrie