What a Blue Heron Reminded Me About Growth

Sometimes growth requires less activity and more patience, observation and focus. Maybe we need to grow more like a blue heron.

I recently chose a paint colour called Blue Heron for my office. Coincidentally, the shade is almost exactly the deep teal I use for my own brand.

Then, out for a run last night, I noticed this guy hunting.

He wasn’t racing around the shoreline trying to catch everything.
He stood still.
Watched.
Waited.
Took a few deliberate steps.
Watched some more.
And when the opportunity was there—he went for it.

Watching him brought me back to Jim Collins, whose work John Hayward introduced me to early in my career. Collins talks about the value in firing bullets, then cannonballs—test, learn, figure out what works, then concentrate your resources behind it.

Technology has made it “easy” to try everything. So a lot of businesses do. Another channel. Another campaign. Another partnership. Another market. Another sales tactic. Lots of activity. Lots of shots.

But activity and growth aren’t the same thing. You don’t have to chase every opportunity. You have to get very good at recognizing the right one.

Channel the heron: Observe. Choose. Commit.

Thanks, John, for the introduction all those years ago.