The Dog Star: Anticipation
(The Dog Star is a symbol of power, will, and steadfastness of purpose, and exemplifies the One who has succeeded in bridging the lower and higher consciousness. – Astrological Definition)
Bentley looks over his shoulder at turns in the hall or choices outside to see which way I’m heading, and adjusts his path accordingly. When we play fetch with one of his lacrosse balls, he runs immediately in the only direction I can throw it from my position, and expects to pick it up visually on the run. However, when we play frisbee, he’s learned to watch it depart from my hand, since it never sails in a true line.
We shouldn’t over anticipate (e.g., try to guess what a buyer is going to say next) but we should allow for visual and auditory cues that can help establish our speed and direction. For example, when the buyer’s eye contact keeps wandering, we need to create more interest and value quickly. If someone incorrectly uses your bread plate, simply don’t take any bread, rather than incorrectly seize your neighbor’s or embarrass the person who’s in error.
At the waterfront restaurant where we take our granddaughters often, a family of swans is always at the same place to try to mooch some food, and the same, lone duck is always with them to mooch the food the swans miss, because it knows what always happens. A swan’s brain must be the size of a walnut, at best, but these birds know exactly where to go and when (dinner time to the closest tables to the water), and the duck knows to stay just outside the reach of the adult swans.
Watch your buyers and listen to your buyers. Run in the direction they intend to use. Catch the opportunities before they fall to the ground.
© Alan Weiss 2013
