Going solo: small boats and big boats

An analogy struck me the other day while rowing my single boat: self-powering a small boat is very similar to running your own business. After a long winter, I could no longer stay off the water. The weather is still unpredictable and although it was still fairly windy, I decided to go out thinking this was my chance. It was good to be out, but while working hard to balance the boat and maintain my speed, I questioned the wisdom of my decision.

Why do some people enjoy self-powered boats? The simple answer is the sense of self determination and accomplishment that comes with being in control of your boat. You can decide when to go out and you can choose the course, but that freedom comes at a price. You are the one who will have to pull the oars or the ropes, keep the boat afloat and bring it and you back home safely, whether it’s sunny or the storm had turned against you. Similarly to self-powering a small boat, an entrepreneur is both the athlete and the coxswain, providing both the muscle and the brain power. A sense of independence, determination, willingness to take risks, and self discipline are essential.

On the other hand, working at a large corporation might feel very much like going on a cruise. The course is set and the boat offers a lot of comfortable amenities. Rough waters that could easily tip a small boat are barely sensed on the deck where you can bask in the sun, sipping exotic drinks. Even if the captain might occasionally sweat at the wheel wary at the thought of the ship hitting an iceberg, he has a large dedicated crew ready to act at the slightest sign of distress. Better yet, there are those who are thoroughly enjoying the ride, with little concern as to where the boat is at any given point in time, or what may be needed to keep it going… So, why not take avantage to just “sit back, relax, and enjoy it”?

While occasionally taking a cruise might prove relaxing, spending your life on a cruise ship cannot be real fun, can it? At some point the abundance of food and drinks must get sickening and the daily routine boring. You may start wondering what was on that last island that you could not visit because it was not on the cruise’s schedule? You might get a glimpse of the vigorous excitement of a small group of tanned people with large white smiles pulling the ropes of a sleek sailing boat elegantly sliding by the slow moving giant. You may begin to wonder: “Could I possibly be able to do that? Couldn’t I then decide what places to visit?”

Should one truly seek the answers to such questions, s/he will have to take the leap, jumping off the big boat to test a self-powered one. Some might like it, yet others might decide that cruising is actually their thing. Either way, we will better off knowing what it’s like and learning more about ourselves.