by Eldari Visser
At a typical game farm in Africa animals roam free, well free within boundaries that is. This means the owner has a piece of land or property that allows his animals to experience life in a carefree way. Many animals have to be kept like this due to human activities and urbanisation, herds for homesteads and unfortunately poachers. These animals are not really free, they have boundaries or fencing, even cages. They see electric wires and gates. There are timestamps, branding, chips and permits that gives you this “freedom”. They are free to move around within limits of the boundaries. The big cage.
Unfortunately to save some animals they have to be kept inside a cage as mentioned above. Sometimes for breeding purposes to sustain the species, or to keep humans and farm animals safe, to contain growth, etc. A particular interesting animal is the #Africanwilddog. A beautiful, gorgeous creature but severely under threat. If you watch a typical wild dog in a small cage you will see a constant pacing up and down at the fence line. They will run pathways through the sand and the grass. The focus is to get out but this is also a sign of distress. They cannot understand or think, “oh wait, somebody’s doing this for me to keep me safe.” There’s an instinct that’s driving them, they have to get out.
Bringing this into our business world again as usual. Have you created a cage for yourself without you realizing it? A cage where you feel safe, but you are realizing that the world outside is moving along and you don’t know how to reach that outside world anymore. Are you pacing up and down looking at the outside and thinking, “how am I going to get out of this cage?”
Let me explain a few cages.
When you create your own business idea without looking at the need, the market, the competition, or sustainability. You created a cage which should supply your needs, but you can see from the inside out that you are not ok.
You have an idea to start a business. You create the business according to how you see the market without undertaking thorough research. You do not take tips from another business owner. The loner cage. As long as you are at the helm, you are happy.
Research suggests most businesses that go belly up are the passion cages - the hobby or the passion is the business. Soon you realize many people also love selling facial creams online. Just an example, I love buying online, but you get the idea.
A family business could also be a typical cage. What if one person wants to get out?
You have a good but old business and times are changing.
The subject of thought of a business person could hamper their willingness, their availability, and their openness to new possibilities or new ways to work.
Do you think of new ways to get the same results or even being open to great new frontiers if you are a caged-in animal? You are not free, you have those boundaries to walking and to operating, you do not have the Great Frontier. You have to pace up-and-down at the fence of the yard. That’s what you’ve got, freedom within limits.
Focusing on yourself right now. Are you limiting yourself? Are you limiting your business growth? Are you limiting your personnel’s growth? Are you limiting your supply chain? Are you limiting your future income? Do you have caged thinking?
I have met business people from all sectors that would happily share with me how they perceive the outside market. The other guys. What the others are doing and how sometimes they wish they can just start over, doing something different or better. It is not so easy to pack up and leave the cage which can quickly become a prison.
I know at a wildlife sanctuary they look after the animals well. They are safe but still they have an urge to get out. So what do you do if you are a caged animal? You start digging, you bite the cage until you bleed, until you get freedom, many times just to be caught at the other side. There is always a price to pay when you start digging and biting. When blood is present there is hurt.
What is the alternative for an animal? If you’re caged just accept it as your lot and sleep your days off under the trees, drink water, eat food, go about your merry way. Or do you wait at the gate and willingly look out for somebody to open the locks that will set you free, showing a way out and a new life, maybe in a much bigger reserve? I think this makes perfect sense. Are you willing to wait at the gate?
The story seems to be a lot about mumbo-jumbo and mental health and animals, but here is a lesson.
Do you have a cage mentality? Are you limiting your business by your own thoughts or activities? Are you just thinking, “I wish I could be on the other side.” Do you feel like a spectator watching from the inside out? Do you feel helpless? Do you feel constrained, or restricted? Do you know why? Only you can take a good look and then decide if you need to make a move. The easiest answer would be, “yes ,I will go through the gate,” instead of trying to claw through.
Get yourself and your business free again. Be part of the ever-changing landscape, be alert and watch the gate for a better sustainable future. Teach yourself new ways to work, stay involved in market trends, read a lot, be aloof and wise. Get out of the cage. Remember, we all know about AI.
Junglewealth greetings
Eldari Visser and her unique company, Picketfence Life, is providing access to information, advice and a powerful network of experts to help consumers find solutions to various serious issues. The company focuses mostly on easy blogs written by financial coaches, lawyers, accountants and tax practitioners, life and business coaches, and even psychologists. It gives practical tips and help and is the expert on your side of the fence. --- You can contact or follow Eldari at www.picketfence.life | Facebook | Twitter | #Junglewealth series
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