Few creatures on earth are as repulsive as the evil looking reptile, the crocodile. It appears to be smiling to the ears all the time but don’t you dare come any closer. It’s not a smile; it’s a smirk! I do not feel any differently on this issue but I have to confess that when it comes to the ability to seize opportunities I am a long time fan of the crocodile. A friend of mine,Gerald Vimbayi, introduced me to the Crocodile Principle when we were still in college but I doubt he seriously intended for me to actually become a fan, let alone write about that most unattractive creature with warmth!
Principle 1: Symbiotic Relationships
One of the most complex relationships I have read about is between the Nile crocodile and the plover bird. After feeding, the crocodile opens its jaws wide. The plover confidently walks into the open mouth and begins to feed on food remains and parasites. Meantime, the crocodile gets its mouth cleaned and is probably tickled, enjoying the attention. Who would have thought the mighty crocodile enjoys attention! To be successful in life we need to be strategists. And a good strategist knows which relationships to pursue at all costs because in some instances they are the only ones that will open the door that we so desperately want to walk through. Just like the plover, there is no need to be afraid to explore relationships with very successful and powerful people with the aim of being mentored.
What most people don’t know with the powerful is that they can’t wait to talk about their long road to success. Humans love honour; we love to be appreciated, to be complimented for our efforts and would gladly share our experiences because it makes us feel like we are doing our part in furthering the great cause; the perpetuation and progression of humanity. Isn’t it about time you knocked on the door of that “crocodile” and fed on some tidbits of fresh corporate, social, academic or religious success as the case may be?
Principle 2: Active Patience is a virtue
When it comes to the actual hunting of prey, the crocodile is a deadly strategist. And what makes it so lethal is its infinite patience until just the right moment. A crocodile will wait all day if it has to but it knows the deers will come for a drink at some point. It will wait submerged in the river with only the eyes and nostrils visible, looking like a floating log. But when they come for watering, the crocodile is ready. I call this active waiting; waiting with a purpose or strategy in mind as opposed to just waiting aimlessly and hoping that something will happen. Someone once said, “Chance favours the prepared mind.” Another one said, “The more I practice the luckier I get.” Be as prepared as you can be, constantly on the prowl for new opportunities but if there is nothing yet, don’t worry, they will come.
Those in the corporate world know the self destructing effect of haste when looking for prospects. If you are too eager to close the deal, the prospects will flee. A man named Tom Deuschle once said, “You must go into a deal negotiation prepared to walk away from it.” In other words if you can tell that you are getting a bad deal, walk away and look for others rather than accept for the sake of having a deal. But if you are patient enough to explain the product or concept and sense the buying signals you then move onto the ultimate prize; principle 3.
Principle 3: Seize the opportunity
When it’s time to attack, the crocodile goes into overkill. You almost suspect it’s doing it for show. Without warning it lunges out of the water like a NASA rocket and before the poor deer knows what in the world is going on, it’s gone. I personally suspect that after spending so much time preparing, the crocodile cannot afford to squander opportunities. And I think there is a lesson there. As much as we plan, there will always be missed opportunities, but when the chance presents itself or is found, a good strategist will seize that opportunity like a treasure chest. Don’t be apologetic about seizing an opportunity; you’ve worked very hard for it so make sure it does not slip through your fingers.
Principle 4: Maximize on your area of strength
Concurrent with the attack, the crocodile draws its prey into its area of strength; the deep. Outside the river, the crocodile is not half as effective. Even young leopards can afford to tease it but once it is in its natural habitat they do so at their own risk. The crocodile fights its battles in its back yard. One of my mentors, Jeff Mzwimbi, used to say, “Maximize your strengths and manage your weaknesses.”
Instead of trying to actually eliminate them, some weaknesses are best managed because they will not go away. But if you know your strengths, you can compete on their basis and therefore stand a better chance of success as opposed to challenging everyone on everything with the result that you spread yourself too thin. Some people are born multi talented and also with enough complimentary energy seemingly to achieve perfection in almost all they lay their hands to do. I am talking about Leonardo Davinci and Richard Branson to mention a few but those are the outliers. Most of us have to master a few things in life and compete in those if we are to co operate with the law of natural selection or more importantly, actually make a meaningful impact in life. What have you been doing lately to improve your area of strength?
Combined, the four principles above are what I call the Crocodile Principle. The last three are what make the crocodile so lethal; the first shows how, when the crocodile is not busy hunting, it spends its time developing relationships and networking. After all, who can survive without the other?
Those, my friend, are the Crocodile Principle.
igamechanger 