Swallows or Hedgehogs...

Hedgehogs are one of only three UK mammals that have the ability to hibernate. They will hibernate through the winter depending upon the availability of food. When times are tough they roll into a ball and hibernate – waiting until things improve and their food supply becomes available again before they wake up.

Hedgehogs will even change their diets according to what is available and frequently eat foods that are high in fat and sugar although their metabolism is designed for low fat protein rich foods. This leads to cases of fatty liver and heart disease being quite common. 

British Swallows spend their winter in South Africa, covering up to 200 miles a day at speeds of up to 35mph. Swallows value consistency and understand that in order to achieve it they have to go somewhere different in order to achieve it. The journey is hazardous and sometimes they will die of exhaustion as they fly over the Sahara, but they value consistent temperatures and food supply above the hardship of making the actual journey.

In business and life we have a choice – we can be either a Hedgehog or a Swallow.

The Hedgehog business is cyclical; the results look like a roller coaster, when times are good life is good, when times are tough a Hedgehog business will roll into a ball and defend itself, and if sales dry up it will go into hibernation – we call it denial or insolvency.

The Swallow business endures the same cycles as the Hedgehog but the response is different. The Swallow takes the risk of changing its environment, leaving what is comfortable and embarking on a journey that whilst dangerous, has the potential to deliver abundance and security; and most of all, continuity…

So what type of business does the best – when the markets are good, business will be good and staying put and reaping the benefits of an abundant harvest looks like a sensible and easy option. When winter arrives in the form of a recession, staying put is not an option, and success will be achieved only by taking the risk of doing something different; metaphorically flying over the Sahara.

The business environment has changed, it is not that is any harder than it was before, it is just that we need to change what we do and where we go in order to achieve the same levels of success. The Hedgehog mentality of hibernation in the hope that things will get better doesn’t work, the recession will last longer than you reserves of cash.

Swallows will win the day. They always did, just that Hedgehogs justified their behaviour when times were good because it seemed to work for them. Looking for new markets, innovations and customers, taking the risk of the new and daring to take the journey is where the Swallows business attitude will win.

Plus, if I am going to fall over - I would much rather do it soaring over the African Plains than hiding under ahedge in West Bromwich. Its a choice...