Are You A Shark?

A few months ago I saw this quote, “Do sharks complain about Monday? NO. They’re up early, biting stuff, chasing things, being scary – reminding everyone they’re a freaking shark.” Seeing that quote really got my gears turning. I am a huge fan of Shark Tank and always seem to be inspired after each show. Now you may be thinking, other than the word shark, how are these two things related?

Well, Shark Tank has a panel of investors called “Sharks”. The Sharks listen to entrepreneurs pitch their business/product and then they decide if they want to invest. If they are interested, they counter a deal to get a return on their investment. If more than one Shark is interested in the business, they essentially “fight” over it by trying to make their deal the most appealing.

Ultimately it is up to the entrepreneur to decide which deal, if any, is best for them.
The panel of Sharks are seen as experts in their field, are self-made millionaires (some billionaires), and ultimately mentor the entrepreneurs they invest in to be great business owners as well. If you have never watched the show, I encourage you to at least watch one episode.

In watching this show, I realized those with shark-like mentalities are some of the most successful people out there. To be a shark you need to be adaptable, constantly moving forward, taking action and not letting anything get in your way. Sharks don’t wait to be fed, they go out and search for food. Essentially, they don’t wait for things to come to them, they go out and get the things they want. This type of thinking and action taking typically causes the desired result they want simply because they put in the work to get it.

There are certain characteristics I believe people with shark-like mentalities share:

1. Failure isn’t an option – Failure doesn’t scare them, it drives them to learn from their mistakes and press forward.
2. Trust their instincts – They trust themselves and the process.
3. Educate themselves – They take the time to learn their industry, audience, and absorb as much information as they can, when they can.
4. Network and surround themselves with the right people – They know it is important to have the right employees, partners, investors, even friends and family in their corner. They spend time nurturing and creating these relationships. They stay away from relationships that drain them because they understand it isn’t going to help them with their goals.
5. Work hard – I think this one speaks for itself, but they work hard. They know that someone is always on their heels looking to take it away.
6. Work through issues to find solutions – They don’t necessarily look to start a business. They find a problem, then work to solve it. They create a business or product based on their solution.
7. Don’t waste time – Procrastinating isn’t an option. They don’t wait for the right time, they light the fire and work to keep it burning.

This correlation got me thinking about myself in the terms of “sharkage”. Am I a shark? Do I even want to be a shark? How do I become a shark? Can I grow into being a shark? Are there different kinds of sharks? I now have all of these questions racing through my mind because I know I want to be successful and I have the work-ethic to make it happen. However, I feel like if I was a shark, I’d know it right? Some of you may be asking yourself these very questions now.

I personally believe some people are natural born sharks, some are trainable (a.k.a. sharks in training) and some will never be a shark. I have always had shark-like tendencies, but wasn’t born a shark. So, it seems I am a shark in training. Most of my “sharkage” has come from life experiences. As I get older and experience more of life, the path I am on is becoming clearer. The type of success I want to obtain is within reach and I just need to think like a shark to get there.

Are you where you want to be in life? If not, maybe changing your mindset and adding a little “sharkage” can help you obtain the things you want. Don’t let anything stop you from moving forward, being successful and chasing your dreams!

Kimberlee Kenyon
Member Services Coordinator
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
9444 Balboa Avenue, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (858) 453-2128
www.aaepa.com