What canoeing can teach you about business

I'm back! I spent the last week with my husband and kids, floating the Current River in Missouri. As I'm working today, my mind keeps wondering and I find myself right back in a canoe. So I decided to go with the flow...Here's some of what I learned about canoeing and how it applies to business:

1. Don't move suddenly or lean heavily in any one direction, you're liable to capsize. Business is the same, maintaining a good balance is absolutely necessary. We have to work on all aspects of our business, marketing, operations, sales, etc, not just 'lean' in one direction.

2. One person needs to be in charge or the canoe will end up going in circles. As business owners, we need to have a clear vision of where we want the business to go, take charge, and get everyone on board pulling in that direction.

3. Communicate, communicate, communicate . . . and make sure everyone knows the lingo. (no point yelling 'port' to a seven-year-old that barely knows left from right!). As business owners, we tend to forget that the other people around us are not as 'expert' in our business as we are. We need to make sure we communicate constantly with our employees and customers, and in terms they understand.

4. Some days will be bright sunshine and others will be spent dodging thunderstorms! We've all surely experienced this in our businesses. The key to getting through the thunderstorms is be prepared for them, don't let them get you down and just keep paddling until you get clear of them.

Okay, so I'm off to do some real work now! Happy paddling!