Entrepreneurs and anglers are more alike than they may realize. Sure, one casts lines into bodies of water, and the other casts lines into the lives of others. Although their efforts are aimed at different areas, their dreams are the same: to reel in something big and beautiful! Whether you spend your time in slacks or waiters, recognize that entrepreneurship and fishing aren’t all that different. No matter which category you fall into or where you’re casting your line, remember that there are always more fish in the sea (yes, that metaphor applies to business too, not just love).
What’s on Your Hook?
Like bait, lures, and flies used by anglers, you (as an entrepreneur) have something that makes your line worth grabbing. That something is your personality, your character, your values, your message, and of course, whatever it is you’re selling. More importantly, what’s really going to get people to give you a chance is your intent and your interest. You can’t just put yourself out there, make a connection, then let it slip to the wayside. Don’t think of your connections as catch and release. You’ve got to invest in your connections. Listen to the people you meet and show interest in their lives. Demonstrate that you care. Show that you want to serve them and discover ways to make their lives better, together!
Rods, Reels, and Line
When you go out on a fishing trip, you bring the right equipment. You don’t use an ice fishing rod to catch halibut, right? You prepare according to what you want to catch. And if a better reel or stronger fishing line enters the market, you put in the work to get the upgrade. In this comparison, entrepreneurship and fishing are the same. As an entrepreneur, you’re always looking to upgrade your equipment—your people skills.
You have all the resources anyone could need to improve their people skills. With the internet at your fingertips, there’s no reason you can’t get better at communicating, understanding, listening, and connecting.
Find the Right Spot
Most people don’t go fishing in the heat of the day, and if they do, they pick a shady spot where the fish hang out and wait for bugs to land on the water. In entrepreneurship and fishing, location, time of day, and weather all play a big part in your success rate. If you want to make a valuable connection with someone, odds are, you won’t have the best luck doing it at a gas station in the middle of the night.
You must choose your introduction windows carefully. Introducing yourself to people at events is a great place to start, because they’re likely expecting to meet new people. Meeting others through friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances is also a good option!
If you’ve somehow already met every acquaintance or been to every event that you could this year, choose the difficult route and challenge yourself: introduce yourself to a stranger in public. But please pick a place where it’s more socially acceptable, i.e., grocery stores, coffee shops, public parks, or restaurants. Bonus points if you do it in an area where you’re both waiting and have nothing better to do.
If you’re both waiting to get your oil change, strike up a conversation. If you’re waiting in the grocery store checkout lane, say, “Hello!” Sitting at the bus stop? Compliment something about their wardrobe and ask where they got the item. We don’t recommend making introductions in waiting areas where people may already be uncomfortable (at the doctor’s or dentist’s office).
Not Every Trip is a Success
This is where entrepreneurship and fishing (and many other activities) relate: failure and success. When you hop out of the truck and your family members ask, “What’d you catch,” it’s hard to admit that you came home empty-handed. But did you really? Did you have a good time? Did you enjoy being outside and going fishing? Most likely you had a good time up until the minute you decided to head home because it wasn’t working out. No matter how frustrating it is to leave empty-handed, you have to learn to enjoy the pursuit of the “big catch.”
As an entrepreneur, you have to do the exact same thing. Sure, some days you’ll come home with a wallet full of other people’s contact info, or one that needs a refill on your business cards. But other days, you’ll go to bed without having made any new connections. It’s important to teach yourself to have fun just interacting with strangers, whether they’re potential long-term connections or just fleeting conversations.
From One Cast to the Next
When you set out on your trip, as an entrepreneur or an angler, leave prepared, excited, and positive. You never know how many tries it will take to succeed, but it’s bound to happen if you stick to it. If you’re ever in doubt, seek another expert’s advice. It never hurts to learn from the people who have already succeeded in your field. It also never hurts to set standards for yourself and keep yourself accountable to the goals you set.
