| You've heard about the fellow who decided, after | | | | people or dealing with the wrong people. We tend, |
| some heavy drinking, to go ice fishing. So he | | | | sometimes, to fish where there are no fish. It's |
| packed up all his equipment, his auger, catch | | | | like asking a bank manager about a business |
| covers, catch cover sleeves, scoop, rods, reels, | | | | opportunity or a virgin about childbirth. With time |
| lines, bait, bobbers, split shot, ice pick and propane | | | | so valuable, we should be very clear about how |
| heater, and off he staggered, down to the ice. He | | | | we spend it, and whom we spend it with. I talked |
| picked up his auger and was about to start | | | | with a chap recently who told me he attended |
| cutting the hole, when a voice boomed down | | | | ten business networking meetings and only met |
| from above: "There are no fish under the ice." He | | | | one good prospect. When he factored in the |
| shook his head. Was he hearing things? Must have | | | | wasted time, gas, parking, membership fees, and |
| imagined it. So he started again, and again the | | | | so on, he felt he had wasted a lot of time and |
| voice rumbled, "I said, 'There are no fish under | | | | money, fishing where there were no fish. |
| the ice!'" The drunk looked up and asked | | | | There's a simple rule of thumb to prevent |
| nervously, "Is that you, Lord?" "NO!" the voice | | | | disappointment: Do your due diligence and qualify |
| replied, "This is the Ice Rink Manager!" | | | | people before you spend time on them. Check |
| Rika and I decided to take the scenic route back | | | | them out Google them do a Better Business |
| from Kelowna, BC, where I delivered a talk last | | | | Bureau check ask for references and testimonials |
| week. On the way, we saw some people ice | | | | call your friends and ask if they know them. Ask |
| fishing in the middle of a lake. So we pottered | | | | more questions. Be direct. Spend more time on |
| across the lake and went to talk with them. This | | | | the phone and e mail qualifying them before you |
| was the first time we'd ever seen anybody ice | | | | give away information or go to a meeting with |
| fishing. The friendly fisher folk told us very | | | | them. Ask them if they can make a buying |
| interesting stories. The ice was twelve inches | | | | decision and if they have the money and |
| deep. Fascinating! Anyway, it reminded me of the | | | | authority and when they intend buying or deciding. |
| joke, above. | | | | You will save time and money and catch good |
| In life and in business, I have found that we often | | | | fish. Joint Venture with the right people. |
| waste time getting information from the wrong | | | | |