We were hiking in a remote area of the North Cascades (Agnes Gorge Trail to be exact) and it was 90+ degrees. We had been on the trail about 2 hours and I had just gotten into my groove of a big blank of nothing in my thoughts and just going “ hike hike hike”. It’s a great zen rhythm when it happens.
Then just as I rounded a blind corner, there it was.
I caught my breath in the way usually reserved only for plunging into cold water.
And I said ….
“Whoa! Bear!”
As fast as I saw her (and Kim looked up) the bear must have heard and smelled us. She turned a 180 faster than I’ve ever seen another large mammal do and ran up the hill.
Wow she was so beautiful (and an unbelievable adrenaline rush)!
I took a breath and was thankful that 1) The bear ran away from us, 2) It wasn’t a grizzly (they are more aggressive!), and 3) I didn’t poop my pants.
The next bit of hiking we just kept saying over and over …
“Wow…”
…like a bunch of stoned teenagers.
It was truly that amazing. What a beautiful bear, what an unexpected surprise, and what good fortune that there aren’t enough stupid people in this part of the wilderness to cause bear habituation issues.
Thankfully we didn’t have to actually “do” anything to ensure a safe encounter with this bear. Most importantly, because you never know the circumstances that will show themselves, we both know what to do in the event of a bear encounter. What you do depends on whether it is a black or grizzly bear as well as the situation at hand (aka what the bear is doing at the time, how the bear reacts, etc.).
Now let’s be clear, I don’t ever want to surprise a grizzly bear in the wild. No. Not ever. Thank you very much.
And yet it feels good to know we have proper knowledge and (hopefully) the presence in the moment to choose wisely if and when we encounter a bear knowing a black bear encounter is far more likely than a grizz. We didn’t naturally possess this knowledge though, we learned from experienced guides and experts.
If you spend enough time hiking and camping in the woods, your odds of running into wildlife increase. It is simple probability and statistics. And I intend to keep spending more and more time out there.
The same can be said in business. Whether you are just starting out or many years in business, there are unexpected surprises. Sometimes it seems there are surprises at every corner and they come at you like level 8 on a video game – one after another after another, relentlessly.
How do you react and navigate when this happens?
It depends.
Is it a fawn grazing in the grass sort of surprise? A black bear? A grizzly? Or a “holy crap we are really screwed and I am glad my will is up to date” mountain lion encounter?
If you haven’t experienced a particular challenge in business before, how will you know?
The actions you take will determine success or failure and the exact steps you take for one situation (aka black bear) are the exact opposite of what you need to do for another situation (aka grizzly bear).
Can you quickly discern the subtle differences when you encounter a challenge in your business?
Are you able to keep your cool, maintain a clear head and solid presence as you move through the situation?
If you’re not sure, maybe you need to bolster your knowledge and skills from a trusted guide.
These are the types of things where I walk side by side with my clients. I help them minimize the risks, maximize the opportunities, anticipate the unexpected, and respond confidently to whatever gets thrown in their path.
If you could use a guide to help you prepare and traverse the trails you are traveling in your business, contact me and let me know (or go here to jumpstart our connection). I have a few limited openings in my schedule right now (but they won’t last long).