It’s Open Season for Success in the New Work World
As human beings, aren’t we always on the hunt for one thing or another? It’s such a major part of our lives that I made “Be a Hunter” the fifth step of my Faremouth Method™ — a framework for aligning your career with your passion and purpose — which became a major part of my first book, “Revolutionary Recruiting.” Coming from a long line of hunters and with the white-wing dove hunting season upon us, I recognize the hunt metaphor has much to teach us during the changing and challenging times in the New Work World and beyond. And let it be noted that I understand this subject can be one of a sensitive nature for some, but let’s look at the metaphor from days of old in a more general sense when we all were hunters and gatherers of sorts to feed our families and function as human beings. Much symbolism can be drawn from this metaphor of hunting, so let’s investigate how we can apply its positive aspects in order to thrive and grow.
1. Dove Hunting Is a Family Affair
Many hunters today got their start hunting doves with their dads. The rite of passage is one of the most challenging yet enjoyable kinds of hunting. It helps bond families and friends, deepens those relationships and creates meaningful experiences in the outdoors. Doves are by far one of the most challenging birds to hunt. You have to anticipate where the dove will be after the shot is fired, as well as timing and distance, to make your mark. Similarly, we have to prepare for where to “aim our careers” in the future. Where we are now might not necessarily be where we will be going forward in the New Work World. Perhaps we should take time to strengthen our skills and bonds with our family and friends. We might have to agree to disagree in some cases, but the key is to strengthen those relationships and not take them for granted. None of us knows how long we will have people in our lives. It is up to us to use our time to create the best personal and professional relationships possible.
2. Leave Places Better Than You Found Them
I remember going to the hunting lease with my family where my late husband was always concerned about leaving the place clean and even better than how we found it. His hunting training taught our sons valuable life lessons. If we take those solid lessons to the New Work World, striving to make a valuable contribution to the bottom line, how can we go wrong? In this New Work World, employers want people who can help improve the company and strive to bring new and innovative ideas that will allow all parties to expand and flourish.
3. Don’t Quit If Things Don’t Work Out the Way You Want
I recall once going on a hunt with my family and, upon arrival at the trailer in South Texas, there was a bad storm. I felt like I was on the movie set of “The Wizard of Oz” and the trailer would get swooped up in a funnel of wind and be carried off. We thought about going back home, but we didn’t quit. Hunting was delayed. While waiting for the storm to clear, we all played cards and board games, and the guys cooked up a storm of their own. There were stories exchanged, ideas tossed about and problems solved. Bonds were strengthened, and important problems were solved. Our current jobs might have some metaphorical storms. We can be negative, have a bad attitude and complain, or we can think of ways to make the best of the situation and make our role even stronger and more productive.
4. Joy Is Found in Community
Dove hunts involve a bunch of guys being in the outdoors, sharing experiences and cooking good food. The camaraderie always fosters better relationships. Many business relationships are strengthened on hunts. The past several years have perhaps forced us all to realize how important community is; we can accomplish so much more in the work world too with a stronger sense of community.
5. Patience Is a Virtue — and a Requirement
Hunting is not action packed. Hunting requires patience to wait for that one very precise moment to get what you want. It also requires quiet time, solitude, deliberate thinking and action. As we apply this mindset toward our life and career, we must remember the need for planning and attention to details. We must be patient in our quest to find new priorities and learn from the hunters about bonding, meaningful relationships, the importance of networking and more. We have to act at that precise moment, not prematurely or too late. We have to set goals and chart our progress. Most of all, getting what we want requires patience.
6. Conflict Resolution Is Key
To succeed, hunters have to quickly resolve conflict in the outdoor world. This is such an invaluable quality as we seek employment and career advancement. Conflict resolution is one of the best tools you can have in your backpack, ready at a moment’s notice, to dispel intense situations and create a win-win for all parties concerned. This is especially beneficial to close a deal or improve the bottom line in the corporate world or personally. The art of negotiation is very powerful to make you an invaluable player in the workplace.
7. Strength in Knowledge
While hunting might require physical strength, the work world requires a different strength: how well you know your job, how well you know the company you work for and its competitors and how that affects your confidence in job performance. Your strength in knowledge will make you an invaluable part of the team as you stand out in knowledge of a product and its performance. Think about the times you have walked into a place of business looking for information before you bought a product. You want a salesperson who can readily educate you on all the points of interest to make your decision. You can never underestimate the value of increasing how much you know.
8. Learning From the Past
Hunters have long been known for gathering around the campfire, sharing stories about hunting or the one that got away. We can learn valuable lessons by listening to those who have come before. We can learn from their mistakes as we set new goals for progress. Listen intently for the ideas previously put into place that did not work. The best way to solve problems is by listening and learning from the past.
Many employers want that hunter mentality as they look to fill open positions. They want employees who will create solutions to the challenges brought about by the past several years and more recently with tariffs, for example. We can go much further by using all of the valuable lessons from hunters and the hunting experience. Just as a hunter works solo while still connecting with others as part of the great hunt, we are all learning that we can be part of a team while working independently. All in life is a hunt. Whether you are hunting doves or your own personal dreams, those same skills apply. Patience and precision are at the top of the list to actualize what we want, and relationships are about the shared experience.
Hunting for success is a lifelong season. So be the best hunter you can be!
