I have a passion for the bald eagle or Haliaeetus Leucuceohalus according to his scientific name. I have this passion as long as I can remember. But it is not a logical passion.
I am Dutch and a passion for a bird of prey that is common in The Netherlands would be more obvious. But life is full of inexplicable surprises and left me with this passion for the bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States of America. I have seen the eagles only once in my life in their natural habitat and that was during a holiday in British Columbia in Canada. When I read about bald eagles and about the way they live, I always start thinking about what a businessman can learn from them in order to become successful and that is what this article is about.
1. Vision
Bald eagles are birds that can often be found on very high altitudes. There they soar and with their very sharp eyesight they have a clear view on the world below them and especially on the prey they want to catch; fish, that is what they like most.They can see the milky white spot in the water from a distance of many miles. In high places they build their nests. On a rock, on the top of a tree but always on a spot where they have a good view on the world that surrounds them. And from their castle they see what is happening around them and that gives security.
The businessman should also have a clear view on what is happening in the market. From very far he should recognize his potential customers and “attack” them at the right moment. At the same time he should be aware of the dangers that surround him, anticipate, absorb the environment and be prepared to act immediately.
2. Knowledge
Bald eagles are confined to their territories. With the seasons some migrate but you find bald eagles only in a specific habitat namely forests, mountains and near sea and rivers. You won’t find them in the desert. In their habitat they know what to do, where they can find prey and which dangers surround them. By instinct and by learning they have knowledge about the way they have to conduct their lives and about how they have to behave in this habitat. They will never go beyond the limitations of this frame work. If they do, they die.
This holds a lesson for the businessman. He should know everything about his business and when I say everything, I mean everything. He should know all about the products he sells from beginning to end, every detail should be an open book to him. He can never be surprised with questions on which he has no answers. He should know about marketing techniques, the position and plans of competitors etc., etc. And if he doesn’t possess this knowledge by nature, he has to learn it.
3. Enough is enough
When Bald Eagles catch prey, they will catch only one fish at a time. It is not possible for them to catch more. But they know precisely how to catch this one fish. Their flying skills, their strong talons and their eyesight are extremely well developed and fit for the job. Almost every attempt to catch a prey is successful.
This phenomenon also holds a wise lesson for the businessman. He has to restrict himself to a number of products he can handle and products that matches his skills and abilities. To stay in the animal world: if you are a cow don’t try to jump fences like a horse. People will only laugh at you. It is better to sell one product very well than ten without a satisfying result.
4. Courage
Bald eagles mate for life and they are absolutely loyal to each other. From high altitudes the two birds tumble down in a dangerous free fall. Mocking the laws of gravity they unite. Only just above the tree tops they separate and fly wing by wing to the nest. This spectacular show requires great courage.
A businessman also needs courage to be successful. He has to make decisions about difficult and uncertain subjects. And he also needs to know when to stop his free fall. Having courage to make difficult decisions is not synonymous for being reckless. A decision that leads to disaster is not a decision, but a wild guess.
You see….the businessman can learn a great deal from this majestic bird that embodies not only beauty, strength and freedom but that possesses also the essential conditions and abilities to survive.
The beginning businessman as well, who is maybe starting his business in great uncertainty about the future, can learn from the bald eagle: Flying high starts with spreading your wings!
Joop Liefaard is Human Resources Manager and started an online business in 2002. He applies his experience and knowledge about organizing businesses in his new online one and found striking similarities and agreeable differences. Joop invites you to take a look at his web site , where you can find information about three successful programs and where you also can subscribe to his weekly newsletter.
Copyright 2003 Joop Liefaard.
Joop Liefaard uses his experience as a human resources manager to help small business owners to better organize themselves and their enterprises. Visit his website at http://www.eagleye.info, for information about three successful programs and resources, including his Eagleye’s BizOpps Newsletter, that can help you.
