We learn lessons as a kid that we find ourselves revisiting as an adult. I would like to tell you are story about one lesson I learned from crawdad hunting that still resonates with me to this day.
Success & Crawdad Hunting
When I was a kid, a fun thing we used to do was to go Crawdad hunting. What are Crawdads? They’re Crayfish. We had a blast doing it. When we first starting hunting them, we, the kids, did more splashing around in the creek water then working and hunting for crawdads. I can honestly say we made quite a racket. I’m certain we probably scared away anything living. My Dad and the other adults were quiet and very methodical about the whole thing. When we kids finally settled down to hunt in earnest for our crawdads, we looked for and overturn only the biggest rocks. As you can imagine, our buckets were fairly empty when the time came to go home.
It took awhile before I started to pay attention to what the adults and other successful hunters were doing. It didn’t make any sense to me. As time passed, I noticed my bucket was always half of what the adults would have at the end of our hunting. I was miffed and totally frustrated. I then started to work harder turning over larger rocks and still with the same results.
I gave up and sat on the bank with a forlorn face watching everyone. Dad came over, sat down beside me asking me why so glum. I blurted out that I just didn’t get it, why did I always have the smallest amount of crawdads than what he did. I turned over rocks like everyone else. I sat there with my chin in my hands feeling very sorry for myself.
My dad and I were quiet for a while. It was a beautiful settling, and my gloom seemed to pass. When Dad was ready to start crawdad hunting again, he asked me to follow him. He then taught me what I was doing wrong. It was a lesson that I have never forgotten. It applies to so many things in life. It was especially true for me as a teacher and a sales person.
When you’re crawdad hunting, you need to turn over EVERY rock. Why? You just never know what great surprises you might find under even the smallest rock. From that point on, I always had a full bucket.
Whenever I get frustrated with any project or venture I remember my Dad and our crawdad hunting days. I will always ask myself if I’ve turned over every rock.
The lesson is clear; it will take hard work and to look for every possibility. Doing that one thing can yield far greater results than just looking at the (perceived) bigger stuff. I have my Dad to thank for that.
I would like to give a special thanks to Susan Oakes from M4B Marketing who has been an amazing supporter or mine and the one you gave me the inspiration for this post/podcast.
What childhood lessons have you learned, that has stayed with you? Have they helped you achieve your desired goals?
Life’s journey continues…
If you liked “Crawdad Hunting,” check out Dyslexia and A Father’s Advise For His Daughter.