Are You a Shark or a Goldfish?
September 8th, 2009 Posted in Newsletter
If you are concerned about the future and anxious about your situation, I know how you feel. I lost my job in 2001 during the dot.com bust. The company was losing money faster than we could raise it and eventually the company sank faster than the Titanic. I thought it was the worst event of my life. I was two months away from being bankrupt. I had a wife, two young children, a mortgage, no health insurance, and very little savings. I was a paycheck away from losing it all.
It sounds bad. It felt bad. Seen from one point of view I suppose it was bad. But one day I decided that I wasn’t going to let this challenge take me down. And that’s when I knew I had to change what I was thinking and doing.
I read a few books which helped me make some important decisions through the change. Eventually these decisions would lead to the work I do now as a writer, consultant, and speaker. I often joke that I went from Fired to Fired Up. My layoff led to my life’s mission and purpose. What I thought was the worst event in my life actually lead to the best. I realized that dealing with waves of change is all about how we perceive and respond to the change we are facing.
Change comes in all forms. A new business model at work, a reassignment, a lost job, a new job, new leadership, new policies, new rules for a tough economy, new government regulation, layoffs, personal adversity, professional challenges. Change is inevitable and while we can’t control the events in our life we can control how we respond to them.
When the wave of change hits we have a choice. We can allow the wave to crush us or we can embrace the change, learn from it and ride it to a positive future. We can move forward with determination and faith that our best days are ahead of us, not behind us.
Most importantly we can decide whether we are a shark or a goldfish. Goldfish wait to be fed. Sharks go find food. Which one are you? Share your thoughts on our blog.
I hope you’ll join us for a free tele-seminar Sept. 14th where I’ll share strategies from my latest book The Shark and the Goldfish to help you and your team thrive during change. Register here.
- Jon
Share This on Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
Tags: change, goldfish, jon gordon, positive tip, shark, success
18 Responses to “Are You a Shark or a Goldfish?”
By Crissie Cudd on Sep 8, 2009
Sharks have such a bad reputation, can we change the alternative to dolphin? They too go out and look for food and they do it intelligently and as a part of a team when necessary. I’d prefer to think I work with a bunch of dolphins instead of a bunch of sharks.
By John Fogarty on Sep 8, 2009
I have to say I feel I am a Shark but agree with Crissie that Dolphin is a nicer idea, team player working intelligently but sometimes the shark is called for to excel in certain situations.
By Bill on Sep 8, 2009
Analogies abound, and there are reasons for both (dolphin & shark)…to me, the perception may be the extreme differences between the two, hence the perceived change.
By David Hinde on Sep 8, 2009
Hi Jon,
I had a very similar experience to you, I was also made redundant in the dot com fall out in 2001. My reaction was to pack all my belongings in a car, put my flat on the Market and drive to the French Alps to learn how to be a ski instructor. It was one if the best things I ever did! After the winter season I realised I couldn’t pay fir the life I’d become accustomed to skiing, but realised I had a passion for teaching, so came back to London to start running managent training courses. I now teach, write and consult in managent and leadership skills and love it.
Change maybe is the universe telling us it’s time to move on.
Oh by the way, sorry Jon but I prefer being a dolphin to a shark aswell!
Kind regards
David
By Jon Gordon on Sep 8, 2009
Crissie,
Besides, The Dolphin and the Goldfish does’t have the same ring to it as a title. Nor does the Shark and the Angelfish :). It’s really about iconic images and contrast between someone who waits to be fed and someone who takes action. Hope this makes more sense.
I guess you’ll have to read the story to understand where i’m coming from. It’s a nice shark that teaches the Goldfish how to find food. I also share in the story that one of the reasons why the shark helps the goldfish is because sharks have a bad reputation and are in need of some positive publicity
By Kelly on Sep 8, 2009
We were building our dream house and it quickly turned into a nightmare. Between the builders and lawyers involved, it took us 18 months and 2 builders to get the house completed. We were financially wiped and emotionally drained. Yet, here I am, 3 years later getting ready to graduate from law school. I was a shark in that I took what could have been a completely devastating experience and turned it into a positive. I doubt I ever would have fulfilled my dream of going to law school if we hadn’t had this experience. GO SHARKS!
By Barry Smith on Sep 8, 2009
Wow - perfect timing. I absolutely love Jon’s posts. As a pastor I try & share this idea all the time… His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher as well. I guess it’s painful when I get those same concepts thrown back at me from someon else.
By Kent Oram on Sep 8, 2009
I am a shark. I have always been a shark. I am also a very nice person and these thoughts are totally compatible. I am typically most frustrated by those around me who want rewards that are generated from living a shark-like life but want to swim around the pond like goldfish.
By JoAnna Brandi on Sep 8, 2009
Love love love this discussion - yes I’m in the camp for the dolphins - either way - great job with the metaphors!
Too many are reactive rather than creative. Perhaps the good of all this that has taken place over the last few years is that more people will reach deep inside to find their own resourcefulness and creativity.
Keep leading the way!
By Michelle Hill on Sep 8, 2009
You are absolutely right Jon! It is tough. It is scary. Some days it seems hopeless, especially on bill paying days. Some days I FEEL like a wimpy little goldfish.
Being thrust into unfamiliar waters causes us to sink or swim. Some days it seems as if only my nose is above the water as I gasp for air; other days I feel fearless and strong.
We all have a choice of HOW we\’re going to live each day. Every day we are granted the privilege of waking up gives us a new batch of hours and minutes and moments.
God says I am powerful because I have His power inside me. Shark, Dolphin, whatever…it’s being proactive in our search for our life’s mission.
By fafa on Sep 13, 2009
I will try to read your writing daily ,until the day I can stand up, to walk properly, until go to run , really I like change change change ! to get get get to give give give all of mine !to fulfil all of my life.
I hope this statement could be seen by you. I hope I can improve to achieve my goal !
lead me to the light road. please
By Janifer on Sep 13, 2009
I will try to read your writing daily ,until the day I can stand up, to walk properly, until go to run , really I like change change change ! to get get get to give give give all of mine !to fulfil all of my life.
I hope this statement could be seen by you. I hope I can improve to achieve my goal !
please lead me to the light.
with pray pray pray places all of my heart to totally trust to God, he will give everything come true. thank you for your role, thanks for given a hope .
please lead me! feeling frustared empty oil
By Christine Minadeo on Sep 14, 2009
Oh! When the tide of change sweeps over us, it is so comforting to be a goldfish…waiting for someone, anyone to feed us, care for us, provide our essentials. When help is unavailable or uncertain, it is time to step up (or swim up!) and become a shark! It is where we are to be…dependent on God but working through the needs, desires and His will to where we must be. Thank you for your positive weekly newsletter!!
By Pamela JOhnson on Sep 24, 2009
Goldfish or Shark. I enjoyed that. I am a Shark once you have a good Spiritual foundation you realize that your job is not your Source when you realize who your Source really is you can make it through any and everything.
By Caroline on Sep 26, 2009
hi jon i read your book the shark and the goldfish i love it!! i’m def a shark! you write awesome books!!!! sincerely, Caroline Gothberg!!
By Mark Welch on Oct 7, 2009
I enjoyed the Shark and the Goldfish podcast, but in the end the message is pretty much the same as Dr. Johnson’s “Who Moved My Cheese?” The Shark and the Goldfish are Hem and Haw. It’s the same principles/message - just in different wrapping.
By leslie on Oct 31, 2009
I’m just getting started and I can’t want to hear the discussion on The Shark and the Goldfish.
By Bob McIntyre on Nov 2, 2009
Mark - I’m a late one to the discussion, but one of the things that Jon does far better in his writing, than Spencer Johnson does in, “Who Moved My Cheese”, is advocate taking action with a plan. For me, everything in Dr. Johnson’s book was correct, but it seemed to epitomize many companies that propose a high level of action, with no real plan or direction. To “Scurry” around, and by doing so, stumble on luck and good fortune. And Jon, just in case you’re keeping track, I like shark.