Stop Futzing Around. Go Get the Solutions You Need.

Visitors to Alaska will often ask, “Where can I see a moose?”

It’s a difficult question to answer. If I suggest that they go to the zoo, they shoot me a dirty look.

I know. They want to see a real moose in the real wild. Not a “fake” moose in a zoo.

So, I’ll try to think of the last time I saw a “real” moose in the “real” wild.

I’ll often I’ll say something like, “Well, I just saw one this morning.” Now the visitor is excited. But it’s actually a less helpful answer than the zoo.

Moose don’t stay put (“Moose” is both singular and plural).

The truth is, I see moose a lot. I walk our dog early in the morning. It’s become a habit to scan the street for moose when we leave the house.

For the most part, a moose is as exciting to watch as a parked car. But, occasionally, they will chase you. Given that they are larger than your average parked car — that can be exciting.

In our neighborhood, I regularly see a big bull with a huge rack and a limp. There is a cow (or several cows? I can’t tell them apart…) that seems to like the apples in a neighbor’s tree. There’s usually an adolescent or two wandering around.

One spring, I walked through a small patch of forest and stumbled on a cow and calf in a clearing. Based on the wobbliness of the calf and the fact that the mother didn’t move — I think she had just given birth. It was a special moment. They hung out in the little wooded area for a few days. I saw them a few times and tried to give them plenty of space.

A couple of weeks ago my dog shot off into the dark to investigate something interesting — and quickly shot back towards me with a moose in chase. Shortly after, I noticed her calf across the street. Don’t get between a mama and her baby. I was very careful to quickly get out of her space (this was a different calf than the newborn. Maybe the same mama. She didn’t give me time to look).

I have lots of “moose in my neighborhood” stories. Why?

Because I am where the moose are when the moose are there.

Putting Yourself in Opportunity’s Way

Many leaders ask me a question similar to the visitors:

• How do we manage growth?
• How do I prepare for an exit or succession?
• How do we increase sales/revenue/profits?
• How do we hire more people?
• How do we develop our team?
• How do I become a better leader?

The answer, to them, feels as elusive and mysterious as a moose sighting. But I see answers to those questions, played out in real-time, with one client or another, regularly.

The reason is simple:

• I read or listen to the kinds of things that have the answers.
• I put myself amongst groups of people who are finding answers to these questions.
• I’m there “in the lab” when clients apply the answer to the question.

I am where the answer is when the answer is being discussed or needed.

That’s how I do it. How do you need to do it?

If you just want to see a moose, you have to go where the moose are.

If you just want to see moose — the zoo works. If you want the experience of sighting a wild moose that might chase you — come walk dogs with me.

If you need more sales — put yourself in front of more customers or prospects.

If you want to grow — put yourself in an environment where the ingredients for growth exist.

If you want to manage growth — immerse yourself in content and relationships with people who know how to manage growth.

If you want to hire more people — infiltrate a talent pool.

If you want to build your team — create opportunities for them to work as a team.

And so on.

Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. Put yourself where the opportunities are.

Take good care,

Christian

Originally published at https://www.christianmuntean.com on October 25, 2022.