Sometimes you need help to stay on course

Richard Brewin • August 6, 2018

A friend of mine is a keen open water swimming competitor. The most intimidating part to me, as a spectator, is the cavalry charge into the water and the weight of bodies all thrashing around for position, swimming over, under and around each other in the race for an advantage.

I’m told that the best position, if you’re not in the clear water at the front, is to be in the slipstream of the competitor just ahead of you, swimming so that your fingers just brush their feet as they push ahead, forging a calmer path of less resistance through the water for you as you swim inside their wake.

The problem with this technique is that you can’t see where you are going. You are dependent on them to be following the racing line. Of course, if they can’t see either, or they are swimming to a different strategy, then you have a problem.

Kayakers can be seen circling around the swimming pack and looking for competitors heading off in the wrong direction. Once identified, they’ll direct them back on track with their paddle in the water ahead of them.

It’s very easy to lose your direction amongst the multiple daily challenges of running your own accountancy firm. Whilst you’re still making decisions all day, every day, those decisions can start to become less effective over time if you’ve lost sight of your original or planned objectives.

You hope for some breathing space, some clear water, to arrive so that you can take stock but the danger is that either that never happens or, by the time it does, you’re so far off the pace or your chosen route that you become disillusioned.

Having a mentor alongside you as you swim through your business life is like having the swimmer’s Kayaking friend. Someone who doesn’t interfere, who isn’t there to tell you what to do, but someone who is there to help you keep on track, maintain your performance and offer encouragement and support when you need it.

Worth a thought?

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