by Eldari Visser
A couple of months ago we had the privilege to go to the Kruger National Park in South Africa and we spent five days in glorious nature. Wow, that was really a time of rest and we saw amazing sightings. I always get great ideas for my blog that directly correlate with our business life. Nature once again did not disappoint! Nature’s stories are so closely linked to our business world. I really think we could all just listen to her more. We can apply the lessons of nature and animal behaviour in business successfully. Here is a story for you that I hope brings this point to life.
We headed for a picnic spot. Animals all around us but still safe from predators. I watched two adult baboons, not monkeys but baboons, having a very lazy morning stroll in the green fields. They were busy picking up little worms or looking under big stones to see what they could scavenge for the day, because they had a little baby to feed. It made for good photography and of course all the tourists with long lenses were all too happy. Some tourists group’s ladies were busy unpacking picnic baskets with food. Some of the men were busy frying Boerierolls (a type of Hotdog) on hot fires. Bread roles were readied for everybody to have a quick bite and then get back in the car and onto the next chapter of their journey. What could go wrong?
To braai and picnic is typically what you do around in the Kruger National Park - you drive and watch animals and then you take a break at the picnic spot for food and a toilet stop. After a while at our stop, I saw these two baboons coming down the road towards the picnic site as if they are walking hand-in-hand. Let me explain, baboons walk and work on all four, but they can also walk on two legs. So, these two were just walking next to each other, side-by-side on a Saturday stroll towards the picnic spot. At some stage you could see that the female was starting to focus on a specific table in the picnic area - okay, I must tell you that all these picnic areas are very safe, although baboons are a problem. They are constantly chased away by a ranger with a serious little machine in his hand which we call a “ketty” in South Africa. It is a small slingslot that can flip a stone towards the monkey or baboon to scare them off. Yet our couple was indeed very clever. Mum had the baby on her back and they were strolling close by the picnic site - the next moment she zoned in on a table and started to trot, then suddenly going full speed (baby on the back) running for the tasty food. Who wants to cook if you can eat take away!!!
What happened next like something from a movie. The male came in from behind her and with a yell and a scream and his big body, jumped on the table, grabbed everything that he could, and the two of them jumped for the trees with their winnings. Everyone was screaming and laughing. Of course for the South Africans in the group, this was quite funny because we know how naughty these baboons can be, but I am absolutely sure that it was very frightening for the tourists. We thought this pair’s team work was extremely clever . How the two worked together like Bonnie and Clyde to put food on the table. Since that day, we are calling them Bonnie and Clyde because they were very good thieves and they really strategised well to get to their goal.
We carried on with our lunch and the baboons were busy somewhere else, until new tourists came to the picnic spot and they did not know what was waiting for them. Mr baboon was sitting on a high stone watching the picnic area once again, looking for that one bad spot where he could go and grab some food. People were minding their own business again, and we were just chatting along when I saw Mr and Mrs baboon sitting on the high stone and watching the picnic area very closely and I instinctively knew that something was going to happen again! At a picnic spot people come and go, they bring food, and then they get back into their vehicles after a short rest. Good picking time for the baboons. With one fast swoop the table was empty, Mr baboon was not so lucky. He grabbed a bag full of coleslaw, and that was not to his liking, so he just threw it back onto the table, as if saying, “who do you think is going to eat this.”? It was clearly visible in his face that he was annoyed. After that incident they left for greener pastures.
Okay, so let’s bring this back to our business life. It is important that you have this kind of relationship with a partner or the people that you work with. In your business world, you need a very strong partner that will have your back all the time. Even if you need to carry the baby and make a beeline for the target first. You must know that there’s someone stronger behind you who has your back, who when necessary, and when the time is right, will go in and make sure that you get that deal.
If you’re at the helm of your business full-time, it’s good to have someone else that can also keep a lookout for good deals for your business. Somebody that can also see opportunities for your business to expand. Just as that mummy was probably tired or having to carry an extra load, she knew she had a partner, a team buddy to help carry the load. In business, it can be a partner or you can use a whole team. It can be a specific group of people but just make sure that you have somebody that you can depend upon. They must be able to bring in the food and also investigate places and are new business opportunities that are ripe for the taking.
We all want our businesses to grow, and we all know the importance of teams and taking care of our teams, so I’m not going to focus too much on teams. What I do want to mention was that the male baboon made sure that he got the first of the spoils…..so just keep your eyes open. Teamwork is good, teamwork is a crucial part of a business, just make sure there’s not a taker in your team.
On the last note, it is okay if your right-hand man or your backup is stronger than you are. We all have specific unique gifts that we bring to our business and it’s okay if we know exactly what our roles are, so don’t worry if your back-up has a little bit more muscle than you.
Jungle, 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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