Being a Good Sport

Mar 08, 2021

Some days you don't catch any fishes.

So part of the excitement about fishing is not knowing what you are going to catch ... or if you will even catch anything at all. The night before, you are thinking about all of the huge fish you are going to reel in, or about how great of a day it will be out on the water. Even with all of the new fancy equipment that can show you right where the fish are ... sometimes they just don't want to bite.

What works today might not tomorrow.

I remember going out last summer, and we had tuna swimming all around us. We hooked up on 4 of them, and it was amazing! We ran back out a couple days later and did the exact same thing, almost in the exact spot, but didn't have the same luck. Guess what? Fish move.

Fishing can be like running a business.

You can have a great day or week, then the next time you go out and do the same thing, and wonder what in the world you are doing wrong. With fishing ... the tide, the moon, the current, the direction of the wind, among other things, come into play. With business ... holidays, school, weather, as well as several other things, can come into play. 

What do you do when the fish aren't biting?

It is easy to get frustrated when you aren't having a great day. Just recently I went fishing with a friend and our sons. They all caught a bunch of fish. I will admit I was getting pretty undone. But they wouldn't have known ... well maybe a little. But I made sure to try to stay positive, and not set a bad example by being a poor sport. I wasn't throwing stuff around or having a temper tantrum, as we are so used to seeing people do when something doesn't go right. I was glad to see them all doing well. Sure, I would to have loved to have heard my reel screaming, but it just wasn't my day.

Staying positive in business when you aren't having a great day is just as important. That has been a challenge this past year for sure for many of us. With all of the negative news all around it would be easy to get caught up and feel like shutting down. The added pressure would make it easy to lose your cool and maybe lash out at people or coworkers. But keeping a positive attitude and having an optimistic outlook will certainly make you feel better, and will keep those around you more upbeat and looking for opportunities.

Most people are much more willing to help and want to work with you if you have a positive attitude too. I don't want to be around someone who will constantly complain and is just negative.

Keep trying.

The first time I went offshore fishing last year with my friends and our sons, we spent the entire day out and had one bite that ended with a fish that broke off ... or did it? 

It would have, if we had quit. One of the little guys wasn't doing great and got sick a number of times. His dad is a doctor so he was in good hands. But to top it off, the fish just didn't like what we had to offer either. We called it a day and started heading in. As we were making our way back, we spotted a lobster pot. The thought, "Want to try?" instantly popped in our minds. It would have been so easy to just go right past it and head in ... we knew this wasn't the time of year to have Mahi there ... but guess what happened? We tossed a couple lines out, and I reeled in a fish!

A Mahi ... and it turned the whole day around. Our boys were excited and jumping around. We could proudly say we went fishing and not for a boat ride. And that story, about that little Mahi, has been told a time or two when we think it is over.

So when it comes to fishing, business, or just life in general, keep putting your best foot forward and smile while doing it! You will sure feel a lot better if you do! 

David