There’s A Lot to Like About Being a Duck Unless You’re Circling a Stagnant Pond

Just as an addendum to my post on “Take the Plunge and Become Your Own Boss”, (Women & Work) I thought I’d strangle the analogy a little more…

I have worked in a variety of “pools”, from government-run Olympic-sized pools, to private businesses so small they risk evaporating altogether ever summer.

Unfortunately there are still a lot of businesses out there that I’d call a “pond” over a pool” - let me strap on my wings and give you a birds-eye-view of one of the ponds of my past!

When I Was a Happy Duck

Some of the best years of my professional life were as a duck. Working for a wonderful mentor who set boundaries and offered guidance and inspired others through her own passion and commitment, I happily circled the employee pool.

I was a happy, lucky duck.

I worked reasonable hours and was adequately paid and had a clear understanding of where I was in the pecking order. Structure, stability and familiarity were mine.

I worked with other happy ducks and we all had a quacking good time.

But then something changed.

Birds of a Feather, Flock You Up

Other ducks arrived at the pond who had migrated from a very peculiar place, where the concepts of support, sharing, positive reinforcement and rewarding good efforts were alien.

Because they were such influential and powerful ducks we sought to change their viewpoint, but they were experts at the upside-down bob and most of the time we spent talking to their butt feathers.

Slowly our lovely pond began to stagnate. My wonderful mentor was painted as a “quack” and her voice was lost on the wind. Lots of the original ducks took off and the pond seemed to grow smaller, the waters harder to swim through.

New ideas were quickly drowned. All the ducks became very quiet, most of them giving up their struggle against the tide and turning in slow, senseless circles…

Plucking Up The Courage

So for me, seeking out new waters was inevitable.

With my wise mentor still looking out for my perky rear end, I began visiting other ponds and talking to birds of a different feather.

I was reminded that not all ponds have to stagnate. In these other places the wind was fresher, the water cleaner and no wonder - the inhabitants and visitors happier and more productive.

Finally I told the new birds that they could pluck off. Sadly, some of the last, original ducks looked on my departure as a further betrayal.

But there were only so many rotations I could make of the pond, the stagnant water now thick as sludge…

And let’s be honest here - there is only so much time one can bear to spend paddling around in other people’s crap!

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