A Few Things I Learned on The River That Make A Better Recruiter

A Few Things I Learned on The River That Make A Better Recruiter – Ward E Wilson

Image by Aaron Stillman

I’d be lying if I denied the fact there is something spiritual about the clean mountain air, the rush of the clear water, the cool breeze on my face and the warm sun on my shoulders. The river is a place of solitude and I go their time and time again in an endless quest to renew my soul, to be one with nature, and catch dinner. Fly fishing is not merely a leisurely activity to pass the time. It’s a passion and I find myself, along with other fly fishers, walking a thin line between it being a compulsion and obsession.

When Fly fishers return from the wilderness they are renewed, recharged and ready to work. Most of the time with the same passion and walking the same line between compulsion and obsession toward the work they do. It’s no mystery as to why. Fly Fishing is an active sport. One is constantly in motion, constantly searching, constantly on the hunt. The same things that make a good fly fisher also makes a great recruiter, or sales person, or pretty much any type of business person. As we obsess about fly fishy things, we’re only ingraining the following six basic concepts deeper into our psyche and it can’t help but carry over into the world of work, which make us true forces of nature.

The 6 key fly fisher concepts are:

Fly Fishers Understand What They Want

Fly fishers start out just wanting to catch a fish. Then, they want to catch two fish. Then they want to catch a lot of fish. Then they want to catch a big fish. Then they want to catch two big fish. Then they want to catch a lot of big fish. Then they want to teach others to catch a fish, and the cycle continues. Even though things change along the journey, there is always a goal. A goal that can be defined simply and clearly.

Fly Fishers Understand It’s About The Fish

The fish doesn’t care what I want. That fish isn’t going to say, oh, well, he really wants to catch me so I guess I’ll go get caught. NO! In order for me to get what I want, it can’t be about me or what I want. It’s about the fish and what it wants. So, I want what the fish wants. Fly fishers understand in order to have success, they must make it all about the fish. They know as much about the fish as they can learn. It’s about understanding their habits, where they live, how they act, what they eat and when they eat it. When this is done, magic happens.

Fly Fishers Understand It’s All About the Presentation

They understand how something is presented is much more important than what is presented. Precisely the right thing presented almost the right way is mold. Almost the right thing presented precisely the right way is gold! Fly fishers will change their location, point of view, perspective, angle of attack, fly, line, real or even rod in preparation for a presentation. They will adjust anything that needs adjusting to make the right presentation because you only get one opportunity to make a first impression.

Fly Fishers Understand Systems

Whether its equipment, procedure or tactics, in fly fishing there’s a system for it. There is no need to re-invent the wheel, well at first anyway. Its starts with the rod, it’s not a standalone device. A rod works in synchronized harmony with the reel, line, leader and fly. Each component is completely dependent on the next and they work as one from beginning to end. Which component one uses is dictated by external conditions and desired results. Systems are not limited to rods either. If you want to stay dry. Well, there’s a system for that. You want to stay warm. There’s a system for that. All you have to do is get with the system. Once you understand the system for the problem your facing, then you can start playing with it, experimenting or tweaking to make it you own and to improve.

Fly Fishers Understand Being Prepared

Fly fishers understand success on the river starts long before the introduction of water. They understand success on the river starts in the drive way at home. The driveway is where the learning is done, its where we practice. The driveway is where we become familiar with the bend of a rod. It’s where we learn to cast the line, its where we learn to tie the myriad of knots needed to bring balance to the system. The river is where the art is perfected, it’s where we perform.

Fly Fishers Understand The Need For Short Term Results and Long Term Sustainability

It may seem Fly fishers hit the river with one thing in mind, catching fish. Well, that may be the first thing on their mind because, well, without catching they wouldn’t be eating fresh fish that night. But the reality is they’re trained to think, even obsess and act for the future. They can’t catch every fish, so they take note as to where the fish are; what’s working, what isn’t, what’s the health of the river, are they catching little fish as well as big ones? All done in an effort to secure future success. They are worried about the fish they’ll be catching years later and they do everything in their power to assure a healthy ecosystem for generations to come.

Wait… What’s that? You’re not a fly fisher, but you totally get these concepts and how they relate to business? Well, it’s not too late, you still have time to get some gear and get outside. I’ll see you on the river!

Copyright ? 2016 Ward E Wilson

www.wardewilson.com

The thoughts and ideas I express here are strictly my own, I do not speak for my employer or others, unless explicitly noted.