Lessons From the Woods 2

I sat a lot in the woods recently hunting deer. One interesting thing about deer hunting is that good preparation doesn’t equal success. It’s an element of success but it doesn’t equal success.

The Saturday before gun season a friend and I headed out to set up a hunting blind. Trekking across the field we jumped two bucks on the way into the sight. Traveling the edge of the field we saw track after track, scrapings and rubbings. Expecting great hunting we set a blind up overlooking the corner of the field and a well worn trail into the woods. Scattering apples down the shooting lanes we were satisfied we had done everything we could to be ready for opening light.

Early Monday morning we walked into the woods. Settled into the blind and waited out the predawn hour, each of us convinced we would soon take a deer.

6 hours later and still no deer.

I was being reminded that success is a mixture of many things not the least of which is opportunity. Preparation is critical, without it opportunities are missed. But preparation without opportunity is just as futile.

So what do leaders do when opportunity fails to come? The same thing hunters do.

Hunters--They stay prepared.
They return to the woods.
They patiently wait.

What do leaders do?

Leaders--They stay prepared.
They stay involved.
They wait patiently for the next opportunity.

Leaders lead.

Lessons From the Woods 1 - Cold Feet

Sat in the woods a lot last week, enduring the cold waiting for a chance to take a deer. I know some people may be opposed to the idea of hunting, but the days in the woods reinforced some basic things that leaders know.

Leaders know preparation is critical.

Tuesday morning was bitter cold -- 25￮ with wind chills dropping into the teens. I donned liner pants, heavy jeans, three shirts, a sweatshirt, a fleece vest and my thermal coveralls. Add a warm fleece hat, a turtle fur neck warmer and a heavy duty pair of hunting mitts, and I thought I was ready for anything.

I left the house at 6:00 am, left the car at 6:15, and was set up in the woods on my camp chair by 6:30 am. Legal shooting time started at 7:07 am.

My feet were cold by 7:00 am. My winter boots were failing me. By 7:20 my feet were feeling stiff. By 8:00 am they hurt. By 8:30 I was walking out of the woods, defeated by the lack of the right boots.

I knew my boots were suspect. My feet had been cold on Monday, but I had hunted eight hours.

Tuesday, however, was a different day, different circumstances. I was unprepared for the cold. Failed due to a lack of preparation.

It’s a simple thing--preparing for the circumstances we are going to face. So simple. So easy to take for granted.

This leader was reminded again of what all leaders must learn.

Preparation is critical.

Leaders lead. How’s your preparation been?