Think of Your Business as a Sailboat and Play With the Sails

My hands clenched as I navigated through massive rolling waves. The wind came from the Southwest and the swell is making my boat, BINGO, surf. The waves had a mind of their own, as I fought to steer in the right direction.Trusting my compass, I attempted to adjust my course to certain degrees but I still couldn't see. Looking over my left shoulder, I saw a huge wave and I bring BINGO about, trying to keep her as flat as possible. Sailing downwind is still tricky. Even though the wind blows in your direction, many things could go wrong.As I glided through the ocean, I played with the sails. My direction changed depending on the direction of the wind. As hours passed into my journey, I inevitably had to adjust my sails.If I made the mistake of leaving my sails in one position the entire time, I wouldn’t be able to sail as fast as I could. Sails set for this moment in time are not necessarily the same as sails that should be set in the future.Think of your business as a sailboat, and play with the sails. Pull in the lines, and then let them out. Try different things to see if you can maximize your speed based on your current position and wind. Oftentimes, in business, when we go on long journeys, we get stuck in the same position waiting for a different outcome. Don’t wait for something to change; pull in the lines, see how the sails react to the new angle. Let the sails out, and see if it helps you gain speed.You might find that something you wouldn’t have initially thought about works.Being an entrepreneur is like being a sailor. When the wind blows in your favor, utilize it to your full advantage. If the wind turns, you should too. Remember that you can’t choose the direction of the wind, but you can always change the direction of your sails.You are the captain of your startup. Happy sailing.