August 31, 2011 71 Comments

Tying Off Or Facing the Waves

When times are rough, in business and in life, many of us seek stability. We want to anchor ourselves to something. We want to tie our boat up to try and outlast the storm. But that very choice can often cause far more damage than the less intuitive decision: facing the waves.

Tying Off or Facing The Waves

In business, tying off might mean trying hard to stick to old products and old marketing, and hoping that the tides turn. It might mean keeping the staff exactly as they are, or halting any investments for fear of becoming cash weak. Tying off is any time you try to hold to what was, with the goal that “what was” will hold you back.

Facing the waves means turning your boat into the swell of the storm and putting your skills to use in plotting a course to safety. It means making quick calculations of risk and taking the action you feel will best serve the most people. It means finding a new course that might push you into turbulence, but that ultimately will get you pointed back towards dry land and salvation.

The Fear Comes Either Way

Neither method is without fear. If you tie off, the “strong winds” of change will ravage your lines and you might find yourself sunk by that course of action. The fear of this happening can ruin what little hope you had in stability. If you face the waves, you’re risking more because everything is changing so fast, and it requires a blend of wits and experience. It’s very scary, too.

You face your fears either way, so don’t let that sway your thinking.

The Best Stability is Flexibility

I’m all for facing the waves. It’s difficult, because it requires a lot fewer assumptions, and it requires a lot more active effort. Most people try to build “set it and forget it” business practices, and that’s fine, until your customers forget it, too. To me, facing the waves is the method to choose. I’ve sunk a few ships, but I’ve saved a few, too.

And you?

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http://fuzzyleadership.blogspot.com Mark

Great analogy Chris.

The other thing to consider when you bunker down for the storm is that, even if you survive, you’re still in the same place you were before the storm… What is to say that (a) another storm isn’t on its way!! and (b) your competitors haven’t sailed off into calmer waters! What’s that old adage? If you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind?

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

True, Mark. You’ve got it. : )

Anonymous

I got laid off on April 1, 2009 (yes, April Fools Day)….. and I faced the waves. Two and a half years later I have created my own way in the world.

Tying off (taking another job) was not an easy option in the worst phase of the recession, so I was forced out to sea. Best thing that ever happened to me!

http://rickmanelius.com Rick Manelius

What was the deciding factor to just go for it? Money? Security? Enough with the old way of life?
http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

So thrilled to hear it. How did you convince your family system that it was the right choice?
Anonymous

Rick – I had always wanted to work for myself, and since there were not a lot of other options in spring 2008…. I decided to go for it. I was laid off several times over my career because of companies that either failed or were having issues out of my control. I saw that when times got tough, bosses made decisions that did not always favor my best interests… and I knew that I would always watch out for my own family. We still have a long way to go, but have made it work for over two years.

Chris – I do not think my wife and kids really signed up for the ups and downs of working for yourself. I believe they would rather I had a steady executive salary. However, my wife will tell you that I am happier daily working for myself, even when times have been tight.

Anonymous

Flexibility , I highly agree. Like illness, the shock and or infection are often worst than the injury. Infections and shock has killed vastly more people than bullets .

Did you know know Yul Brynner watched , without anathema , surgery being performed on himself?

Wild Bill Hickock said when asked about why he was such a great gun fighter, “take your time” In other words, he wasn’t rattled by the situation , had perspective and shot strait.

All this pretty much supports and adds to what you are saying.

Peace

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

That’s a wild story about Yul. I could totally see it.

http://rickmanelius.com Rick Manelius

In my life, it’s always been easier to face the waves when there are no other choices. It’s when life presents me with a way to run back to what’s “safe”, that is when it’s more difficult to do what I know I need to do…

I’m at such a cross roads right now. Unfortunately, I think I just tied myself down. But there is still time to change course. You’ve given me a lot to think about.

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

You’ve struck on something, Rick: It’s easy when there are no choices BUT the hard ones. : )

http://rickmanelius.com Rick Manelius

I think that’s why people sometimes have to wait until they hit rock bottom before they change… we hold dear to alternatives until they simply vaporize and we must move in a new direction.

http://rickmanelius.com Rick Manelius

I take back my original comment. I’m well out to sea right now, having left the traditional path… but I’m feeling a little fear and looking at a map to get back. New land may just be around the corner… but fear is turning my head in the wrong direction!
http://rickmanelius.com Rick Manelius

I take back my original comment. I’m well out to sea right now, having left the traditional path… but I’m feeling a little fear and looking at a map to get back. New land may just be around the corner… but fear is turning my head in the wrong direction!

Anonymous

I think one of the most compelling reasons to not tie off is simply that you will never learn anything by sticking to what you know. Ultimately, the greatest barriers we face in life I believe are the limits of our own knowledge and skills. Fortunately, these limits can grow as large as we are willing to make them. So, I say, sail on! It doesn’t really matter if you sink a boat or two, what really matters is what you learn in the process.

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

Agreed, Brad. that’s a great way to think about it. You don’t discover anything tied to the slip.

Joel Pinto

Loved it, Chris. Really good! I would add: If you tie off, you are probably going to make it through but when the storm is over your ship will be wrecked, and… you will be on the same place. If you move on, chances are, you are going to make it to a different point and your ship will not suffer so much. Great post, Christ. Really loved it!

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

Quite so, Joel. You’ve extended the thoughts very well.

http://ajleon.me ajleon

Also, in the end, its much more gratifying to attack the waves as opposed to getting pummeled by them. Its our way of taking destiny into out own hands. Love the post, as always. :)

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

Agreed, my friend. ANd you are a wave MACHINE! : )

http://www.johnstonsearch.com Brian Kevin Johnston

Chris- BRILLIANT post… Speaking from your heart/soul…. INSPIRED!!!!
http://hannahsharvest.com Hannah Marcotti

I think you are actively showing me how to make sure you don’t get audience fatigue on your blog. Rock the waves, yep, I choose that.

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

I’m showing you many things. That’s definitely one useful interpretation. : )

http://ndlela.com ndlela

Not only can facing the waves be scary but constantly doing it is also exhausting. Admittedly a lot of the big waves in my life were caused by the inaction of tying off, being stuck and just hoping the waves would go away. My question is since we know that life without waves means stagnation, am I working towards some level of calm waters (if that even exists) or am I working to improve my skills to navigate the waves bette . . . or both . . . or an option I haven’t even considered?

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

The real answer? There are no calm waters. There are less violent waters and there are more violent waters. Water, by its very nature, are in motion. So, the goal is to get yourself up to being such a strong swimmer, you’ll do well.

http://ndlela.com ndlela

I was afraid you were going to say that. :) I guess I have to learn to be a better swimmer and keep upgrading my boat. I think I just made the leap/swim from a flat wooden raft to a canoe.

Ralph

Chris awesome analogy especially here in Cape Cod where the waves ravaged some boats that tied off in the wake of Irene! Great, inspired writing as always. A welcome read every morning for me.

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

Thanks, Ralph. I’m a bit northeast of you (Newburyport area), so I had it on my mind. : )

http://twitter.com/jwidmer Joel Widmer

You just captured exactly why I named my business Fluxe Digital Marketing and created a wave as the logo. Love it! Marketing is always going to be in a constant state of change and if we don’t embrace that and use it to our advantage, we can never move forward. The principles (like permission marketing) will stay the same but the mediums are always going to change. We need to make those to haven’t been switched.
Anonymous

Great analogy. Just being the devil’s advocate, but blindly following the advice to take risks is, well, risky. You have to assess whether the risk is worth it. I think you’re saying that when you say “putting your skills to use” that, if you know you don’t have skills to face the challenge, you shouldn’t risk it. Am I right?
http://www.wflconsulting.com Jane Boyd

To me the only thing in life you can truly count on is change. Once you accept this you realize that if you face it; rather than run or hide from it everything will be much easier. This is not to say that strong winds or high tides are not tough…sure they are. If you can come to accept and actually understand that change doesn’t really ever stop; it makes everything so much easier to deal with. Also, as in all things in life, there is a natural rhythm to change…it is important to take the time to watch for signs so you can learn to recognize when the tide is rising around you or when the winds are getting strong. Often we don’t see (or want to see) those things until we are feeling overwhelmed….by then we are usually no longer in as strong as place as we could have been.

Anonymous

This reminds me of a quote from “The Guardian”. In the movie Kevin Costner is a rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard and tells the class, “The only thing between you and the person you are trying to rescue is your mindset when you enter the water.” Paying attention to what is going on around you lets you chose what mindset you have when the waves start to hit.

Great comment!

http://www.wflconsulting.com Jane Boyd

Thanks Brad! I agree…so much of this stuff is about mindset. Being open to change is a huge part of it. Everyday I see people who literally freeze when presented with change. Being open and ready for what is coming is really what it is all about.

Love the quote!

http://www.freelancewriter.co/ Harleena Singh

Great post Chris!

I would also go with facing the waves, taking up the challenges that come along- because like you mentioned, the risk and fear is there either ways.

A quote of Rabindranath Tagore- “Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it.”Thanks for sharing!
http://twitter.com/NancyD68 Nancy Davis

Hi Chris,

Your last newsletter challenged us to do something we were afraid to do. I told my bosses that I am rick of not being listened to and taken advantage of.

Then the hurricane hit. I have not been home for four days. I am still not home. I am at my boyfriend’s place.

The decision to look for something better is the result of realizing that I can put my talents to use elsewhere. I have decided to face the waves.

It goes without saying that I am scared, but to stay would mean being second guessed every time I turned around. I am no genius, but when I show anyone the company website, they laugh. What does that tell you? I may not know everything, but I have a lot to offer.

I need to remember that. Life is going to get very interesting.

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

I’m so happy to hear the update. Good for you!

http://sometimesithink-krissy.blogspot.com krissy knox

I agree w facing one’s fears and facing the waves, although even I, myself, have resisted it at times. I don’t know why I do counterproductive things sometimes.

A sailor may know that tying down one’s boat at the wrong time can cause more damage than just facing the waves and being flexible, yet he may tie down the boat anyway out of fear. I think he muse be doing this out of habit. His fear has become so great that he will go with the fear he does know, even though it causes destruction most of the time, instead of trying a new thing which causes him a new fear. This new thing could cause much lesss damage, and even much success. But the sailor is often not flexible and doesn’t go with the new thing and is fearing bc he has become “comfortable” with his old ways, hanging on to them, thinking they are better!

This post has come at a perfect time @Chris Brogan I will heed your advice. :)
http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

I have sunken many ships but I have learned something useful to help future ships and current one withstand even more adversity. I guess those that are scare of sinking ships never hit the water they are in dry land wondering how it would be to explore the seas!

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

And if you can swim, then you’ve got that one nailed.

http://mattreport.com Matt Medeiros

Chris, what can WE help you with?
http://www.blogstash.com Satrap

I am a big risk taker, so I personally would rather face off the fear. I believe it makes you a stronger person whcih can be beneficial in all aspect of your life.

The worst case scenario would be that you fail because you made the wrong choice. But, even in that case, you are still a winner because nothing prepares you for success more than failure.
http://twitter.com/JudyHelfand JudyHelfand

Sailors don’t survive because they know how to sail, but more importantly because they know how to swim!
Judy

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

True that. Great perspective.

http://twitter.com/JudyHelfand JudyHelfand

Sailors don’t survive because they know how to sail, but more importantly because they know how to swim!
Judy
http://www.kaneworks.com Marvin Kane

I’m thinking that if you manage to face the waves instead of tying off, when the storm clears you are so much stronger. Does that make sense?
http://www.kaneworks.com Marvin Kane

I’m thinking that if you manage to face the waves instead of tying off, when the storm clears you are so much stronger. Does that make sense?

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

Makes perfect sense to me. : )

Ashley

Making the right choice is tough–talk about quick assessment of all the variables!
http://www.modeltrainhobbyist.com/ Lionel Bachmann

Definitely face the waves. Sometimes the waves come only to make you stronger, and to make you face situations that will build your confidence to take on bigger challenges in the future. Tying off can actually prolong the hardship, and cause you to spend more time and energy fixing the damage done.
http://www.abcglab.org/diamond-certification.html diamond certifications

I guess those that are scare of sinking ships never hit the water they
are in dry land wondering how it would be to explore the seas!

http://www.videoconverterfactory.com/resource.html HughDiego

Ummm, you make sense. I agree with you~

http://www.kherize5.com Suzanne Vara

I have hit the waves and then let them hit me harder and again and again and again. In the end battered, I still stood up very shaky but damit, the waves were not going to kill me. I have learned that no matter what, I can only allow myself to be succumed to the waves. I was very blessed to have a strong wall of friends behind me to be there when I felt the waves but they told me what I always knew – they are waves and while they seem bigger than you are, nothing is bigger than what you have inside you.

PS loved the time with DB and SB! They are such rocks and their words have helped to guide a lil tube in the ocean into a speed boat. =-)
http://cashwithatrueconscience.com/rbblog Ryan Biddulph

Hi Chris,

Timely post! I’m facing quite a few waves recently, as I subscribe to the same theory as you.

By avoiding waves we avoid growth. Hitting turbulence is a sigh we should push forward – with greater intensity – but the push needs to come from a slightly different direction. Enter the tweak.

I’m tweaking my marketing campaign quite a bit today, and even though it feels uber uncomfortable it feels damn good. You can face the waves and still celebrate. You can hit resistance, make changes, and still be happy. The point is that you just know you’re headed in the right direction, because the smooth sailing boat never goes anywhere of note.

Chris, a great post per usual here. Thanks for sharing your insight with us!

Keep bending folks, stay flexible!

RB
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great post! thanks a ot for sharing~
http://www.bodhost.co.uk/dedicated-servers-hosting.php UK Dedicated servers

Great really work for me to motivate for hard task.
http://www.brandonsutton.com Brandon Sutton

Excellent, Chris. I’ve cut the lines myself recently and committed to turning into the waves. It requires action, continual adaptation, and willingness to face down the tremendous uncertainty with courage and conviction. I just don’t see any other way forward.

Thank you for the reinforcement.
http://www.brandonsutton.com Brandon Sutton

Excellent, Chris. I’ve cut the lines myself recently and committed to turning into the waves. It requires action, continual adaptation, and willingness to face down the tremendous uncertainty with courage and conviction. I just don’t see any other way forward.

Thank you for the reinforcement.
http://theaveragegenius.net James Hussey

I once ran a franchise for B2B, direct marketing to new movers. Essentially I had to do what I thought was face the waves: moved 3000 miles with my wife and kids and entered new territory, landed in the South.

Didn’t go well as I’d imagined, a Californian kid in North Carolina – then it turned out I was tying off. I’d done so much sacrificing to face the waves that I held on too long – and it’s been a tough climb until I wound up online.

Now more or less every day is facing a new wave. Great post, Chris.
Stephen “Steve” Q Shannon

Chris again hits the UNOWHAT on the head. Heading into the wind (wave) is correct in my view and provides the added bonus of psychic income we’ll never get tied to the pier hoping against hope to not lose everything. Sorta like “the best defense is a strong, driving into the wind offense. Yes?
http://www.MarketingForMerchants.com Denise Vasquez

As for me personally, I have to face my fears in making videos for marketing! I am camera shy and I am NEED to get over it. Not sure how, just yet. What would you suggest? I have made 2 videos but I am not happy with them :(
http://www.adeolakayode.com Deolak Kayode

Another thoughtful hit Chris! facing fear is the continous drink of successful entrepreneurs.
if we do not have the courage o make decisions and face risks we will not have the courage to
withstand success.
I have learnt to drop anchor at the slightest conviction and to move on when such decisions seem counter productive
http://deaneogden.com Deane Ogden

Great post, Chris! My “fear facing” usually involves askin for the sale. I’m pretty bad at it, but getting better. Mostly it’s a “remembering to do it” thing, but I’m pretty sure, deep down and subconsciously, it is driven by fear. Thanks for the kick in the butt!

DO
yao wen

My professor suggested us your blog! I have to say i found it really thought provoking. It has its unique label, a blend of business and life lessons. I really enjoyed it. I will stay tune in this master blog. it’s the food for thought.
yao wen

my professor suggested your blog to us, I have to say it’s really thought-provoking. I think it has its unique label, a blend of business and life lessons. I will stay tune in the blog, it’s definitely the food for thought.
http://www.JohnRobberson.com John

Hi Chris,

Great post topic. It’s basically Fight or Flight. All of us have Fled or tied off. I’ve recently resolved to head straight into the waves and take consistent positive action. Here’s a quote I recently posted on twitter and facebook in support of my new positive directions.
The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do. ~Author Unknown
Payroll

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dude, This is really nice information.
Valasie

This post reminds me of the premise in a book I read by John Ortberg titled, “If you want to walk on water, you have to get of the boat” When you are in a storm and choose to stay in the boat that doesn’t mean it won’t be a rough ride. He goes on to write that all real growth comes from stepping outside the boat regardless of how scary it may seem. I had never looked at the fact that choosing to stay inside the boat didn’t mean that you avoided free and trepidation even though that is why we sometimes choose NOT to step outside.
Valasie

This post reminds me of the premise in a book I read by John Ortberg titled, “If you want to walk on water, you have to get of the boat” When you are in a storm and choose to stay in the boat that doesn’t mean it won’t be a rough ride. He goes on to write that all real growth comes from stepping outside the boat regardless of how scary it may seem. I had never looked at the fact that choosing to stay inside the boat didn’t mean that you avoided free and trepidation even though that is why we sometimes choose NOT to step outside.
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I guess those that are scare of sinking ships never hit the water they are in dry land wondering how it would be to explore the seas!Taking risk makes you a stronger person whcih can be beneficial in all aspect of your life.
Marc Queralt i Bassa

Hi Chris,
I’m reading the posts I missed during holidays and I found this one.
I agree with you.
For me facing the waves (and the fears) it’s been my internal living slogan since some years ago.
Before I used the metaphor of climbing a mountain to represent challenges.Until one day I reach the top. And then there is a fear, you’re the top, where you go now?
So I prefer this metaphor. There is always another wave, even in calm seas,even in a tropical beach on a sunny day.
This way I can keep myself focused and active. And so I avoid the risk of resistance once you reach the top.
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Tying Off Or Facing the Waves