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August 24, 2008
Rowing Alone
“...Well I’m on my way
I don’t know where I’m going
I’m on my way I’m taking my time
But I don’t know where...” - Paul Simon
There are times where the person on that row boat is me and there are times when the person on that row boat is YOU. These are the times where we can find ourselves on our way, we don’t know where we are going and are not necessarily in any rush to get there. But we are on our way somewhere because we recognized the need to do something.
Sometimes we find ourselves in places and in times when we need to do something to introduce a change in our lives. And these are the times we have to get on the boat and start going somewhere.
How often do you find yourself rowing between places and ideas? Sometimes we need to take the time to be alone and reflect. Other times we need the opportunity to think forward and project who we are and where we are going. It all depends upon where your mind is and how you approach the situation.
There have been times in my life where I saw an opportunity and I went for it, alone. I didn’t start out alone but I ended up alone because no one else wanted to take the risk of traveling in my boat. And while not every opportunity I have seen has ended up a success as I see success, I would much rather have tried something and failed then never tried at all. And I recognize everyone sees success in their own way. One of my friends talks about making good mistakes and for him, success is a mistake that is also a learning experience.
I have also experienced the feeling of sitting idle as if I was waiting for something to happen. And when this happens my mind usually wonders over to Newton’s First Law of Motion - “Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.” There are times for me to be idle and other times to put myself in motion. And with that said, I would like to believe I am someone who at times is willing to jump into the boat of life and start rowing myself towards a dream.
How about YOU? How often do you find yourself on that same row boat? Are you someone who keeps yourself in motion or do you also find yourself sometimes sitting idle waiting for someone or something to put yourself in motion?
Tags: Entrepreneurship, leadership, Entrepreneur, Jeff Pulver
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Posted by jeff on August 24, 2008 10:41 AM | Permalink
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Comments
Sometimes, it is good to be still. In stillness, sometimes, many things get done.
Posted by: Mimi at August 25, 2008 06:17 PM
I HAVE to put myself in motion, because no one else will do it for me.
On the topic of failures, I prefer to think of it as trial and error experimentation.
You can go to business school, but what you learn there is largely theory. While I think one should learn everything they can before starting, most of what you learn in a business is by RUNNING a business, usually more than one.
The failures I've experienced, even when cash was lost, was financially cheaper than business school, and more informative.
Posted by: Zoe Winters at August 24, 2008 09:20 PM
I recently read somewhere that "sitting around waiting for something positive to happen is NOT a strategy." Since then I've been slowly paddling toward something. I'm sure I'll get used to rowing alone soon. I've heard other people say that.
Posted by: carolbrowne at August 24, 2008 02:11 PM
Did anyone else look at the picture and wonder, "Why does this guy need two cans of gasoline for his rowboat?"
Posted by: Russell Bryant at August 24, 2008 11:59 AM
Thank you for this thoughtful post!
I am most certainly someone who has, at times, sat idly by. At other times (like now), a tremendous external force (which is what it takes for me, unfortunately) moves me into action. I don't know why it takes such a tremendous blow from something external to kick up my gears, it just does. None-the-less, I've learned to accept that this is who I am. Even when I'm sitting idly by for a while, I'm still alive - learning, growing (though at a snails pace) and, perhaps, preparing for the big kick in the pants about to come that will propell me into extreme and nonstop action. Highs and lows. Fits and starts.
Posted by: charlie at August 24, 2008 10:57 AM
Thanks Jeff..
Personally, I've always been someone to get so excited about my ideas that if even one other person liked it, I would set out to make it happen.
I read Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill about nine years ago. When reading the book, I remember thinking, "Dear God, what do you mean that failure is part of succeeding." Since then, I have excelled and failed a couple times. Failing is so painful and crushing but, also gives you a sense of, I KNOW I CAN GET IT RIGHT.
Now, when thinking about business ideas I have that foundation of *failure* to build from.
Basically, you have to make ALOT of mistakes to finally get the right formula. This is evident when you look at almost any great inventor, business person, politician etc etc.
For some reason this phrase has always stuck with me: I know like I know, Like I know, Like I know..
It's about being absolutely determined to go *somewhere* in full faith, even if you don't know exactly where it is your going.
ps let us not forget the great song: Row, row, row your boat *gently* down the stream ;)
cheers
@Aronado
Posted by: Aronado at August 24, 2008 10:48 AM