August 2, 2012 12 Comments

Don’t Forget to See the Larger Ocean

Gulf Coast of Texas at Port Aransas near the Port Royal Resort

On my post about how the ocean might hold the key to better defining your business, I made the point that if you tried to serve the entire ocean, your business was doomed to failure. It wrapped up very nicely in the context of the post.

But then I got this comment from @pdjmoo:

The only problem with using your ocean analogy, Chris, is that that is why are are in such trouble with our oceans and environment. Myopic thinking, thinking only in parts (industrial/farm fishing) and over-specialization to the exclusion to the whole ecosystem (the ocean) has devastated our oceans. 95% of the big fish are gone (the fishing industry is using more and more high tech sonar to find the remaining big schoolsof fish creating an impending eco collapse). This has created chaos among the other industries that depend upon the ocean too. There is a symbiotic relationship between all life and we have focused on the bigger, faster, more concept for too long. We have to get back to engaging the whole system in relationship to the parts or we are in deep trouble. Otherwise good article Chris.

The Larger Ocean Must Be Considered

In this case, @pdjmoo was being quite literal. We wreck(ed) the ocean by focusing too tightly on specific uses and not considering how those uses would impact the whole system. To that end, the thought does add to my post about your business, because the same problems could hold true. In fact, that’s what I talked with Sir Richard Branson about in this interview a short while back. His new book posits the same concern.

Thanks, oh cheetah friend. I appreciated your thoughtful comment.

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  • Sharon

    The Branson link is broken

    • http://chrisbrogan.com/ Chris Brogan

      Oh thanks. Fixed it. :)

  • http://blog.writethat.name/ Brad Patterson @ Kwaga

    Interesting morning reflection. Thanks Chris and @pdjmoo.

    I think many of us wonder how modern culture can be so myopic, and in that vein, I’ve never read a better series of books describing how humans have lost sight of the whole than the works of Daniel Quinn.

    “Beyond Civilization” is particularly well-crafted and a short take on his perspectives on human culture. I recommend it highly if anyone is yearning for a true intellectual/historical reflection on how we’ve gotten to the brink of an ecological crisis and why there’s still little action on the parts of larger organizations to engage in change.

    Heavy topics, but I’d rather be real than look the other way. -Brad

    • http://chrisbrogan.com/ Chris Brogan

      I’ll have to check on that, Brad. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

  • http://twitter.com/phillyrealty Christopher Somers

    Interesting discussion and perspective. I make the same analogy in regards for us, to be successful, we do not need the whole pie, but just a slice of it. Carving out your niche and excelling in that is a great strategy.

    • http://chrisbrogan.com/ Chris Brogan

      But in this case, @pdjmoo tells us to be very AWARE of the rest of the pie. Make sense?

  • http://ClimbingEveryMountain.com Mary E. Ulrich

    Your post made me think of the book Jonathan Livingson Seagull. Always one of my favorites about seeing the big picture. ps. Also loved Illusions by the same author Richard Bach–gee, I’m old.

  • http://ClimbingEveryMountain.com Mary E. Ulrich

    Hi Chris,
    Your post made me think of the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. Also loved his book “Illusions” –both big picture books. (Gee, I’m feelin’ old to mention those books–they were both “must read” books in college in the 60s)

    • http://blog.edulang.com/ Brad Patterson

      Love those books, Mary, and I’d say they’re definitely “timeless”… “Illusions” is such a magnificent short read.

      • http://ClimbingEveryMountain.com Mary E. Ulrich

        Timeless is a great descriptor. Thanks Brad, I almost didn’t mention them because I feared no one would recognize them.

  • Kleber Oliveira

    These reflections made me think about how a submarine approach may be dangerous (figurative of course): deep research (dive in deep waters) and a very narrow field of vision (situations mostly conducted by instruments or in auto mode, with no new thoughts). Thanks for sharing.

  • pdjmoo

    You have a beautiful heart, Chris and thank you for picking up on, and expounding on my point. Everything we consume and manufacture originates in our natural world and, as such, we have an obligation to be mindful of not consuming ourselves out of existence and rethinking our business decision-making platform — lest we find ourselves in a wilderness of chaos. Maintaining a balanced, natural ecosystem is crucial to survival of all life. And we all have a part to play in this great restoration. In the final analysis, we cannot eat money or drink oil.