The Dog Star: Building Your Own Door

The Dog Star: Building Your Own Door

(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)

My wife and I were leaving to workout this rainy, gloomy morning, and she opened the kitchen door to let the dogs back in from their early constitutional. However, there were no dogs. My wife soon found that the large gate up the hill—used by the tree and lawn guys to get heavy equipment in—was open.

We went into our “find the dogs” drill which we hadn’t used in years (wehn the Great Dog Trotsky ran away weekly) and she grabbed the truck keys while I headed for the front door. Lunging out the door, I nearly tripped on Koufax and Buddy, tails wagging, doggy smiles, very wet, but obviously quite pleased with themselves. (Koufax doesn’t usually run off the property unless he’s chasing something, but then returns, and Buddy knows that if Koufax comes back and he doesn’t, he’s in deep, deep trouble. Nonetheless, we panic if we can’t find them.)

Apparently, some strong winds had blown the gate latch up, and Koufax’s weight was sufficient to do the rest, though these are six-foot long devices. Neither dog likes getting wet, so they probably were looking for a faster way back inside. They know all the entry points. They went to the place we always return to when we’re out for a ride.

I find that many consultants often find an open gate. They run through and go frolicking through the woods. It could be an offer of “collaboration” from someone; it may be some very dubious advice someone with even more dubious credentials presented at a meeting; it might be some technology, or social platform, or “exposure” opportunity from (of course) doing some work for free.

Just because someone opened a new egress, or you leaned against a door and it opened, doesn’t mean life is better out there. You have to create you own paths through intelligent marketing which reflects your value to the most appropriate possible buyers. That’s a deliberate and informed journey, not a romp through the woods.

Understand your value, your buyers, and your market. Then create a path for them to come to your door whenever possible. Don’t just go racing through the countryside looking for opportunity.

Even dogs have the good sense to come in out of the rain.

© Alan Weiss 2009. All rights reserved.