I attended a talk some weeks ago whereby the presented spoke how companies who wish to export need to behave like a Frilled Neck Lizard. For those not familiar with a FNL, this reptile has the ability to puff out a set of flats to make itself look considerably bigger than it is. The analogy focuses on the need to look bigger than you actually are to develop an export market. Further to this, the lizard is also agile and cunning which are also great business atributes. I enjoyed the presentation and appreciated the analogy.
This desciption resonated on a further level today when meeting people after a talk on innovation in Adelaide. I met one person who really inspired me and fitted the FNL analogy because he was able to take a product that he developed locally and now sells in over 122 countries. It was a fantastic chat and I really enjoyed meeting him.
The aspect that really drew home this analogy was actually the opposite experience that happened later in the 'networking' session later (I hate the term networking). After meeting a few people who are well established in SA business I really noticed how closed their minds were not only to me and the firm I work for but also the way they approached business. It was as though they felt the need to be negative to others was a way of establishing superiority. The actual fact is that these people I met haven't been as hugely successful as the first person I met that night who was more of an unassuming and personable character, no where near as successful.
By being negative and drawing in ones frills, you are less likely to be an agile business able to punch above your weight.
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