31 May HOLD THE APPLAUSE
We just returned from Vermejo in northern New Mexico. It’s a 558,000-acre ranch that media mogul and conservationist Ted Turner purchased in 1996 to protect Pronghorn, Deer, Elk and his star herd, Bison. We reveled in the beautiful outdoor setting and wildlife. We hiked, took photos and rode horses, but the only thing Deborah didn’t have on her agenda was fishing.
With lake trout, you set the hook when they bite, keep the line taut as you reel them in, lift your rod tip as the fish nears the boat, and lead it into the net. But if you allow slack in the line, the fish spits out the lure, often seconds before netting it. This was Deborah’s Achilles Heel until she stubbornly focused on the process. Then she caught fish, even the largest one of the day.
The attached photo shows a response many of us have when speaking or negotiating a deal. We assume we’ve completed the task, release the tension, start looking ahead and celebrate. But sometimes we get over our skis and fall short of the finish line.
Speakers delivering a presentation can lose energy, audience engagement and muff the closing. Broadcasters do the same when coming to the end of a story, and even speed skaters at the finish line can lose focus when looking over their shoulder as the competition zips by. Maintain situational awareness, stay in the moment and land that trout.
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