Throw Back the Little Ones

Law practice, like any small business, forces you to think about where you've been, where you are, and where you're going. I do this more as I get older, realizing there is not an infinite time frame to get it right.

Today I was thinking about what I want to do, but it's so hard to stay focused on THAT. My learned thought patterns kept taking me back, thinking about what I've done.  After a bit of that, it was a look at what I'm doing now.  Much of that are things I really don't want to do any more.  I have some ideas, and have had them for quite some time.  Have you ever felt that way?  How can the bigger ideas get going?

I DID figure out that I want to be working on things that excite me, BIG projects and bold business ideas. I've had some of these kicking around for years, and they haven't been done. Why? WHY?? One reason is working on a high volume of small stuff, rationalized under the heading of "having to make a living". Would I be making a better living if I were working on bigger and better things? If I made a decision to go after them? If I did not "keep busy" with the small stuff?

As I pondered this, FISHING came to mind. If I were fishing for bigger fish but had my lines full of smaller fish, what would I do with the smaller fish? Give them to someone else, or....THROW THEM BACK. Naturally, this made me think of the Steely Dan song "Throw Back the Little Ones". It's an obscure one, but I always really liked it. Here's a link....with lyrics.  Give it a listen and let me know if you like it.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA3RYtxUKow

If you are fishing, and you don't throw back the little ones, and you keep bringing them on board, do you know what happens? Your whole ship smells like mackerel!!!

Throw Back the Little Ones

The nature of law practice, like any small business, forces you to think about where you've been, where you are, and where you're going. I think I do this more as I get older, realizing there is not an infinite time frame to get it right.

This morning I was thinking about what I want to do, but it's so hard to stay focused on THAT. My learned thought patterns keep taking me back, thinking about what I've done....usually what I've done wrong. At best, I get to what I'm doing now, that is, what I'm presently doing wrong. Do I have to get past these to think about the future? I don't know, if you figure it out let me know, we can write a book and go on Oprah together.

I DID figure out that I want to be working on things that excite me, BIG projects and bold business ideas. I've had some of these kicking around for years, and they haven't been done. Why? WHY?? One reason is working on a high volume of small stuff, rationalized under the heading of "having to make a living". Would I be making a better living if I were working on bigger and better things? If I had the courage to go after them? If I did not "keep busy" with the small stuff?

For some reason, FISHING came to mind. If I were fishing for bigger and more exciting things to do, what would I do with the smaller fish? Give em to someone else, or....THROW THEM BACK. Naturally, this made me think of the Steely Dan song "Throw Back the Little Ones". It's an obscure Steely Dan song, but I always really liked it. Here's a link....with lyrics, give it a listen, check out the lyrics, and let me know if you like it http://www.actionext.com/names_s/steely_dan_lyrics/throw_back_the_little_ones.html

If you are fishing, and you don't throw back the little ones, and if you keep bringing them on board, you know what happens? Your whole ship smells like mackerel!!!