A Season of Survival
The Field Review: TFR-035
The business world doesn’t follow a natural calendar.
While much of the Northern Hemisphere slows down through the winter months to conserve energy in the bitter cold, the corporate world is usually hitting its busiest season.
There’s a brief lull during the holidays, but the first day back in the office feels like waking up in the middle of a 100-yard dash you didn’t know you were running. The days are short, the air is cold, and there’s no such thing as “taking a minute.”
Every minute counts in Q1.
Into the Woods
A few days before Christmas, I decided to go for a walk in the woods. No deadlines. No emails. No rifle, bow, or looming season close date to weigh me down. I took just my Canon R5, my favorite weapon of choice for capturing moments instead of taking them.
The trails at our local Biological Reserve are familiar to me. Many of them are forever seared into my memory having ran them repeatedly during high school cross-country practices over a decade ago.
This particular morning I found myself on the Whitetail Loop Trail, weaving through the hardwoods, crossing the creek, and climbing to its highest point. The air was still sharply wrapped in peace and quiet making you aware of every breath and every step.
My lens cap stayed firmly in place as I took a moment to take inventory of my surroundings.
I firmly believe that the more time you spend outside, the more perceptive you become. Especially in the woods, you might not be able to see the entirety of your surroundings—but you do start to feel them.
Before I started hunting, I rarely noticed wildlife beyond the obvious. Now, I can’t pass a roadside field without counting every spurred or antlered inhabitant.
I felt company before I saw it.
About 75 yards off the trail, a young doe was bedded down, alone. We locked eyes, both somewhat surprised to see each other but not startled. She didn’t seem to mind my presence, and I didn’t want to disturb hers. After a few minutes between the two of us, I raised my shuttered sidekick to join the moment. I took a few shots with a 70-200mm lens that still left her comfortably distant.
When I was done, I turned off the camera, nodded, and wished her well before continuing down the trail.
Survival in Two Worlds
Winter is often cruel and bitter. For the animals that don’t migrate south, survival becomes simple. Food and shelter are the only priorities. The rut has long passed. Deer hunker down. Turkeys roost. Bears sleep. Squirrels and raccoons find shelter—often in your attic.
They wait for spring.
But in the office, there’s no time to wait.
If you returned to work this January, congratulations—you survived the cold season of layoffs. But now it’s time to prepare for what’s ahead. Financial stores are low, and it’s up to you to replenish them through the strength of your back or the wit of your mind.
But don’t forget to find the balance.
If you push too hard, too fast, you might not make it to the thaw.
If you hibernate until spring, you’ll wake to find the world has left you behind.
Focus on the things that matter most, don’t waste time chasing what you can’t control. There’s no prize for running yourself ragged, no trophy for burning out before spring.
This too is the season of survival.
From My Desk:
What I’m Thinking About: I was off work from December 23 - January 2 and while my brain was definitely not shut off, it was operating under a different set of rules. Like a dog off the leash, it took off in many different directions to explore new territories. Well, we’re back on the leash walking the same path again and the routine is taking some getting used to.
What I’m Doing: I experienced the greatest duck hunt of my career yesterday, all thanks to Matthew Lewis, one of the very first subscribers to The Field Review. It was a morning I won’t soon forget, and one that will be highlighted again in a future issue. This was one of those mornings where you ‘do it for the what if’, and the ‘what if’ was truly spectacular.
On Deck for Monday: First full week of the year, and the pace is already picking up. Strategy meetings, project briefs, and plenty of emails are already waiting for replies. It’s a far cry from the quiet woods, but for now, this is the season I’m in. Time to make the most of it.
From The Field Review Archives:
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Venture Onward,
Jack
I can't wait to hear about that duck hunt.
Absolutely. There is such a difference between using a trail for exercise or finding a deer in the woods and observing an ecosystem. Nature is never repetitive or monotonous.