It s a shame I've been sitting on this book for about two years now. A friend of mine gave me Never Eat Alone , by Keith Ferrazzi a couple years ago (thanks Rey), and it s been on my bookcase ever since. It was resting there not because I didn't want to read it, but because I already had so many others in the pipeline. I finally got around to reading it last month and I definitely recommend it. In very simple terms, Ferrazzi explains why networking is important and how to do it. From how to make call lists to planning dinners to personal branding to goal setting, it s all here. He also maintains a valuable blog .
Inevitably there will be times when you have setbacks or things don t go your way. Maybe you didn't get a job you thought you were sure to get. Maybe you lost a job unexpectedly, didn't win a contract, or lost a major client. Your car always seems to break down right after you've had some other unexpected expense. These kinds of situations immediately place us in crisis. They don t feel good, but sometimes they re what we need in order to grow. The beautiful thing about crises is that they force us to take a step back and reevaluate what s going on in our lives and rediscover what we truly want and need. When we get over that initial shock and feeling of disappointment, we might realize that maybe that job wasn't really the best for us anyway. Maybe, just maybe, that wasn't what you really wanted to spend your life doing. Maybe that friend was holding you back instead of pushing you forward. The way I deal with crises of these sorts is simple: If something doesn't go my way professionally, I try to create a situation that would be more rewarding than the situation originally planned. A while ago, I was offered a job that looked very promising. After I accepted the offer, they pushed the start date back three times, later informing me (via e-mail) that they wanted to bring me on in the near future but I should feel free to explore other options. I was extremely disappointed. I felt disrespected and angry, but decided to make the best of the situation and follow my dream of working internationally. I then flew to Santiago, Chile and had great professional and personal experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise. Later, reflecting back on the original opportunity, I realized that working for a company that avoids a start date three times and then can t pick up the phone to explain the situation is probably not where I need to spend my time. Use setbacks as an opportunity to put your goals in order and act on them. In the moment, it s difficult to look at a setback as temporary, but they are. They happen to everybody. It s how you respond to them that will determine how they affect you.
If anybody ever needed a reason to study marine biology, here it is. Although minuscule, the pistol shrimp makes tremendous waves (actually bubbles) that force larger animals to take notice. The pistol shrimp uses it’s abnormally large claw to both communicate and shoot bubbles. These bubbles, which can reach temperatures of up to 4,700ºC (close to the temperature of the sun), are capable of taking out larger fish and breaking small glass jars, and compete with much larger animals like the Sperm Whale and Beluga Whale for the title of “Loudest animal in the sea.”
What does this teach us about small business and personal philosophy?
Small business in important
Many find small business insignificant. However, according to the the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), small business drives the economy, employing 99.7% of all Americans. Larger companies make the headlines, but smaller companies often account for the technology, ideas, and innovation they acquire.
You don’t have to be a major player to make noise
The pistol shrimp uses one claw to generate a sound that competes with the noises made by the Sperm Whale and Beluga Whale. In business, as in society, you don’t have to be huge to be heard. Dell Computers began from a guy selling computers out the back of his car. With new communication tools like blogs, Twitter, etc., you don’t have to be famous to start or become involved in a conversation.
Partnerships are paramount
Back in the day, competition reigned. Today, we have to work together. There are more options than ever, and people buy products and services based on affinity with a brand. The pistol shrimp typically involves itself in a symbiotic relationship by sharing burrows with goby fish. The goby fish, with its sharp vision, provides a warning mechanism to the pistol shrimp, while the pistol shrimp provides protection. Who can you work with to make bigger waves?
Without goals we can’t build strategy
The pistol shrimp must be accurate to ensure survival. Because of its relatively small size, if it misses its mark, the shrimp risks becoming the one that falls prey. We need to develop a clear set of goals in order to develop a strategy for obtaining them. Also, having goals is not enough. Putting a plan in place and acting on those plans are necessary to reach them.
Conclusion
The pistol shrimp may be small, but is far from insignificant. They teach a valuable lesson for business, society, and personal relationships. Whether you’re a small business owner, an employee, a person with an idea or thought—don’t feel as though you aren’t big enough to make a difference. Figure out what you want to do, develop a plan, and do it.
Two others animals using projectile weaponry are the Archer Fish and Velvet Worm. Check them out.
Feedback, Feedback, Feedback. Feedback is likely the most important component in the communications loop. It’s the thing that’s necessary to gauge the impact we are making in each individual as well as the community at large. It lets us know exactly what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong. Negative feedback, when constructive, is probably the most valuable of all feedback because it gives us a chance to improve, exceed expectations, and show who how well we respond to concerns. Most people just want to know they are being listened to. Are we listening?
We need to make sure we have a system that allows and encourages easy internal and external feedback in both our work and personal lives. For some reason, the standard communication model almost completely ignores the recipient of the message. Real communication never ends when the receipient receives the message. We don’t communicate at people. We communicate with people. In business, it’s especially important to implement feedback into the research and development of services and products. With social media and new forms of communication, your customers can and will tell you exactly what they want, and quickly. This allows us to significantly streamline the development process and introduce quality products and services to market faster than ever.
We always want people to listen to us. It’s equally if not more important for us to listen to them.