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Swimming with Sharks Recently I had the opportunity to swim with sharks.
Metaphorically, what did that mean to me? Yes, I asked that
correctly. It's not asked from the usual way of asking a question
which might be something like: "I did "x" and that was a little like
swimming with sharks!" Rather, my take on it has been, "I swam with sharks and it
reminds me of "x" where "x" is some action I take in my life that is
a little scary, okay a LOT scary, and I did it anyway. For instance,
raising my hand when a presenter asked for a volunteer in front of a
conference room full of people; or saying yes when someone asked me
for something that I had a glimmer that I could deliver; I knew I
could if I just put that extra thought effort into it although it
would be a challenge, and that I knew would be a wonderful
opportunity for me. "X" might even be stepping up and becoming an
officer in a volunteer organization that is up to creating
possibility in the world. "X" might be this one: write that business
plan, buy "the" business license, call yourself a "businesswoman",
take out a business loan, commission a graphic artist to "create
you" in a logo or a web designer to launch a website espousing what
you are offering. Swimming with sharks. Let me share with you about that experience
firsthand and what that was like. I boarded a boat with about 10
other SCUBA divers specifically bound for the "Shark
Encounter" off an island in Fiji, South Pacific. We anchored in
the Beqa Lagoon where there is a shark reserve with the Fijian
islanders committed to keep sharks safe. The Dive Masters began to
throw cut up fishes into the waters to let the sharks know that we
had arrived while we were suiting up and getting ready for our deep
dives. Then we began to jump into the sea and began to make our
descent to 102 feet… we had listened to a 20 minute dive lecture on
the boat; however, I woke up to the fact that we were now… in the
water… swimming with sharks who were curiously swimming around us.
To name a few, there were
During the dive, every nerve in my body came alert, and I
strained to remember every single word that had been uttered in the
pre-dive lecture on the boat; "Do not point, do not reach out, stay
where they tell me to…" After all, I was swimming with sharks. So what's the metaphor for me? It was the same as the next major
decision in my business; major for me. Do I get off the boat, or do
I sit aboard and wait to go back to the dock? Is the dive operation
safe? Do they know what they are doing? Do I choose to take the
chance? Do I take out that business loan and invest it in what's next for
my business, or do I just wait to "get lucky" and be discovered?
What will it be? Do I take that well-informed chance and make that
educated decision, or do I hang back perhaps missing the experience
of observing a Tiger Shark turn on a dime and swim past me,
graceful, powerful, and regal in command of who he is in his
life? What's next for you? Where are you not living into the
possibility of where you might go "Swimming with Sharks" and from
which you may not only benefit greatly but also provide fulfillment
towards your vision of your business? Is it partnership? Is it a new look? Is it upgrading your old
website? Is it having that long overdue discussion with your
business banker? Whatever it is, take a chance. Educate yourself.
Make an informed decision. And then… perhaps… go swimming with
sharks!" ~ Patricia Hirsch, MBA, Master Certified Coach |
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