Catching Squirrels
Every morning, I let my two dogs outside into the backyard to do their business.
Billie, a Collie/Cattle Dog mix races about on her bad hip (and surgically repaired one) until she finds the right spot to do her business.
Taylor, a Pharaoh Hound mix trots over to the same spot each morning to do her business.
After the important stuff is done, Billie continues to sniff about, while Taylor looks over to the corner of the yard to check on her arch-nemesis:
Image by Getty Images via DaylifeOnce the squirrel is spotted, she sits, watches and waits. Billie, on the other hand will speed over to the fence, or the tree, or wherever the squirrel is squawking.
You see, Taylor is extremely athletic. Billie is average, maybe even above average.
And, this afternoon, watching the squirrel soap opera unfold yet again (Taylor has never caught the squirrel but one day, if she does, I feel for that poor squirrel) it dawned on me.
Deep faith is not the sole characteristic of a true entrepreneur, nor does it only eliminate fear.
Deep faith also breeds patience.
If you watch the great athletes of our time, Michael Jordan, Barry Bonds, Wayne Gretzy, etc. they never hurried. Their bodies never expressed a need to rush. Their very muscles were patient.
Much like Taylor waiting for that squirrel. Never expending more energy than necessary; never losing her focus on her target; never losing her faith in herself.
My favorite parable is the one about the old bull and the young bull. I always assumed I liked it because it reminded me of the transformation of my lacrosse skills as I got older.
I stopped relying solely on athletic ability and began to really strategize my energy expenditure.
I became patient.
Now, I believe it wasnt because I compensating for reduced athletic talent. It was because I had a deep faith in what I could and could not do.
That deep faith bred patience.
Taylor has that deep faith in her ability to catch the squirrel. Billie doesnt. She doesnt really care about the squirrel, she just wants to participate with Taylor.
Billie is creating action to hide her lack of faith.
Unnecessary action hides a lack of faith.
And, that was the lesson my dogs taught me this afternoon.
Taylor, even though she looked like she was doing nothing, was exhibiting patience and a deep faith in her ability to do the right thing at the right time to catch the squirrel. Taylor engenders belief in others that she will one day succeed in her quest.
Billie, even though she looked like she was doing everything, was exhibiting unfocused activity and a lack of faith in her ability to catch that damn squirrel. I believe there is no way in hell that Billie will ever catch that squirrel unless it falls out of the tree and dies on impact.
As Demo Day for Techstars fast approaches, I wonder which companies will catch squirrels…
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