Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. As summer slips away and the nights get cooler, the trees change colors, the farmers’ fields ripen for harvest and the steelhead, a sea run rainbow trout, travel up stream to create the next generation of silver bullets that will head to the ocean next year.
I enjoy fall for many reasons, but one of my favorites is to spend days with friends on Northwest rivers fly-casting for steelhead. I love the colors of the flies, the beauty of the landscape and the peaceful sound of the river as it runs by. Steelheading takes a lot of patience. I once heard that on average, it takes 20 hours on the river to catch one. Cast after cast, step after step, the rhythm of the process gives me peace. But the reward can be an exhilarating experience; those powerful fish jumping and running, giving you great challenge before you bring them to hand, gently releasing them, and letting them swim away to fight again, or return to their home waters to create the next generation.
Steelhead fishing takes the same patience, practice and “time on the water” as my profession, consulting, does. I prepare, continuously learn, and put in the many hours it takes to build my practice and reputation. The reward in the end is working with many fine companies and executives to help them attain prosperity and achievement. In effect, I help them return to their home waters of success. I love doing that!
In your business or position within a business, patience, practice and learning all contribute to your success. Having a strong goal, such as returning to “home waters,” will give you a sense of purpose everyday. Your success will follow as naturally as steelhead swimming upstream.
© 2012 – Rick Pay – All Rights Reserved
Good article Rick