Few things are more exciting than opening day of Turkey Season.  It’s like a breath of spring air for those of us who hunt.  I remember my first turkey season like it was yesterday.  I was 11 and in my mind, these Thanksgiving, over-stuffed birds would wander by my blind and I would pick one off with ease.  Turkeys have a false reputation.  Toms are fast and they are smart.  I’m pretty sure the first one spotted me a mile away and just came by for fun.

This was also my first taste of underestimating my opponent and became, what I see now, as an incredible first step in negotiation and setting up a deal.  I started thinking about what that Tom wants, what he needs and how to lure him in.  I wanted to stir no suspicion, maintain a low profile and take down that target.

So I watched those birds and found the perfect place to set my blind.  Then came decoys to draw them in.  And I sat and waited and listened to them talk, so I started calling back.  The next thing you know, the big Toms come strutting out of the woods, deliberately heading to the decoys.  I was patient and chose my moment carefully.  But I knew before I ever drew my bow that it was the preparation that closed the deal, not the arrow.

Here are few tips to prepare for your hunt, no matter the target:

1)    Do your research.  Knowledge is power.  And power is leverage.  I promise, it always comes down to the details.  Know the territory and do what you can to anticipate your opponent’s needs and wants.

2)    Put the game into play.  I set my blind and decoys in a spot that was close enough to lure them to me.  Because from step 1, I knew I wasn’t going to be chasing down a wild turkey.

3)    Choose your moment (or let it pass).  This might be the hardest thing to do because it is human nature to anticipate.  But in a turkey hunt, if you choose the wrong moment, all the birds fly.  So wait for the right moment.  Trust your instincts, your gut will tell you when its time.

I spent a lot of time writing in a turkey blind over the past few years. The first draft of The Hunt was composed in tree stands and blinds and fields and farms all over the United States.  I never knew how closely my hunting skills paralleled my business skills until it came out in my writing.  I can truly say I’ve learned as much from the animals I have pursued as the businesses I have built.  And I’ve got to thank the turkeys for this particular lesson, it has served me well.

The Quest to be…

A writer.  And not just a writer, but a published author.  Like most of my stories, this one begins in a tree stand (which I fully recommend as a great place to think and gain perspective.  Build one in your backyard now.  Or climb up on the roof.).  My life was in a great place and I had just turned 40.   Many friends had gotten in touch and I was surprised and flattered by how many of them acknowledged me as a force of good in their lives.   As I looked over the tree canopy, I let go of my perceptions and really took in how others perceived me.  And inspiration struck.

Getting Started

It’s like hitting virgin woods. You need to clear trails, you need to put in food plants to do it right, you need to do everything from scratch. It’s scary and you feel vulnerable.  Those first few words on the screen or page feel carved in wood, like they can’t be erased.  But like everything, the more you write, the easier it becomes.  The judge went away…and the scout appeared.

Gaining initial Momentum

I couldn’t get enough.  The freedom to express my thoughts without judgment, to be open and flow was like a perfect hunt.  I became hooked early and was totally heads down.  Obsessed.

Hitting Writers Blocks

And then it happened.  The thing that seemed impossible one day hit like a ton of bricks the next.  I couldn’t seem to think clearly, lost my flow and everything I wrote was awful.  And just like that, the judge was back on my trail.  And I couldn’t shake him.

Re-spark momentum

I found myself in the woods, away from the words that now evaded me, former friends, now foes.  Fresh air, boots on the ground, bow in my hand, I finally scouted my way above that block.  So I took my laptop into the woods and made a decision.  I am a writer, so I need to be one.  Surrounded by nature, my mind was calm and the words returned.

Reality moment

A workable draft in my hands, I was ready to go.  But as it turns out, just because I finished it does not mean anyone else cared.  Reality set in and the work truly started.

Hurry up… and Wait

First you get an agent.  And then you wait.  While waiting, you write.  And wait.  And believe.  And wait.  And generate a blog.  And wait.  And build a platform.  And wait.  Social media…wait.  You get the idea.  (See last week’s blog about patience.  Work in progress.)

Start hitting targets

Finally, the pieces came together.  I signed with Jossey-Bass and was thrilled.  And then came the first edit.   And the second.  I had to leave my ego behind and stay focused on the target over anything else while remembering we were all on the same team with the same Desired Outcome: to see “The Hunt” on bookshelves and iPads and in the hands of readers.  My readers.

And now I AM

I am a published author with my words reaching a world of people I don’t yet have the privilege of knowing.   It’s been a wild ride and it’s only just begun.

When you are tracking an animal in the woods and cross a high traffic area, you have to make a choice on which direction to continue your hunt.  You observe variables such as the wind direction, the amount of cover available and the ease of the trail ahead before you apply your hunter’s instinct. The right pivot can make all the difference and have you drawing back your bow. The wrong pivot may send you home empty handed.  Similar crossroads exist in business and these moments offer you the opportunity to truly break through to the next level.

Last week the leadership team of a start-up business I am advising came to see me. Their crossroads was whether they should ride out their model or tweak the way they were selling themselves.  In order to best frame the situation, I discussed all of the wins they had achieved and used examples of leverage points or strengths, so they could consider the situation as objectively as possible. They were executing nicely, however, the model was not kicking in yet, so I offered them another way to look at the situation.

My advice to that team is the same advice I will now give to you. When you have been executing heads down, working diligently towards a big goal, achieving wins and successes, but not the exact ones you expected, it’s time to change it up.  First, look at all of your wins and accomplishments.  Then consider all of the relationships or alliances you have formed that may be able to directly or indirectly help you reach your goal.  These are all of the elements you can leverage towards success.

Now take 24 to 48 hours of alone time.  Allow yourself to disregard your fear of failure.  This is how you can get above the situation and get clear and reflect.  When you can keep the fear out of your head, you will be free to have the breakthrough thoughts that will guide you to the next turn.  Heads down execution is awesome, but sometimes you have to get above and get clear in order to see the winning path ahead.