Of Fowl and Food

Of Fowl and Food

We have predator birds regularly visiting our property: ospreys, egrets, hawks, herons. We have a two-acre pond and surrounding woods that serves as their restaurant. Yesterday, the Great Blue Heron below joined me while I was at the pool. I was eating lunch and the heron was hunting lunch.

I’ve read that predators, historically, from the T-Rex to today’s cheetah on the savannah, have been successful in hunting about 10% of the time. That means it may take ten attempts before a meal is caught, let alone a meal that will feed the rest of the family, if there is one.

I was sitting there with a sandwich because I don’t have to “hunt” anymore. I have a strong brand that brings people to me. But earlier in my career I had to pursue buyers if my family was to eat. My close rate on proposals was about 80%, not 10%.

That heron doesn’t have a brand. Food does not come to the bird, the bird has to pursue food.

I’d advise you this: If you don’t have a strong brand, you’d better have a sharp beak.