Are there any similarities between you and a Fly?

Perhaps a little bit of a weird question you may think. But as I was standing in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil, for a well-earned cup of afternoon char, I watched a fly come flying in through an open window as sweet as a nut with not a care in the world.

Then for the next 2-3 minutes, I watched the fly go against the wall with a thud, then repeatedly hit the pane of glass in the window numerous times with such force it made me think ‘Crikey..! Panic has set into this guy and he just doesn’t know which way to turn.

Now if you covert the same scenario to that of your average business person, how many times have you sailed into a situation as calm as you like, only to realise soon after that all is not what it would seem and you’re fast looking to backtrack your steps or go back in time to get the hell out of there?

If you say “never” chances are you might be inadvertently lying. If you say “just a couple of times” then you might have a memory problem.

Your average fly lives for only about 2 weeks, so clearly, the guy I seen hitting his poor head and wings against the walls and windows didn’t have much time to waste. He needs to get out there and live a little, he certainly hasn’t got time to get caught up in all that ‘stuck in a rut’ stuff.

Are you ‘stuck in a rut? rest assured if so you’re not alone as many of us are, only we don’t know it as we haven’t stopped to think about it, and those of us that know we are do nothing about it or rely on others to dig us out. Either that or look to lay blame for the situation so it’s rested firmly on someone else’s shoulders.

Metaphorically speaking, a fly will only read a newspaper or magazine once, and even then it will be quite a flattening experience for them, however many business folks tend to read books, again, and again and again, never putting what they’ve read into action or to good use, therefore, a possible flattening experience for them also.

Short of a fly not going anywhere near a newspaper or a lizard, it’s a safe bet that they’ll live the full term of their life, for us humans however it’s a little different as there are many actions, results, or misfortunes which can impact on our existence, whether it be us as individuals or the life of our respective businesses.

I opened the window fully for the fly to be freed, yet he (or she) seemed to fly into everything such as the window frame, the handle, the blind, even the glass on the open window, never really heading towards the open freedom until coerced to do so.

Could the same be said for you? In your business can you see the wood from the trees? Can you see the open space? Surprising to know that many of us can, it’s just that we can’t be bothered to head towards it or down that route, because it may be different to what we’re used to doing.

Likewise, it’s always far easier to help a fly out or another business with the very same help and advice we should be giving ourselves.