I just went out to lunch and had the good fortune of stepping in some fresh, smelly dog crap. I cursed, stopped, took my shoe off, wiped the crap off, washed my shoe and put it back on and kept walking to lunch. I smiled to myself as I thought about the shit storm that investors and entrepreneurs alike have been living through for the past 4 months or so. The metaphor of stepping in dog shit seems an appropriate one to share. I'm witnessing people at the various companies I work with stop, swear and attempt to wipe off the shit. Some are successful and seem to be walking forward. Others are less successful and are still trying to get the dam dog doo off their company's balance sheet and p&L. Losses are behind. You can't recoup them. Don't try -- it's likely to make the matter worse. As soon as you can walk forward -- no matter how slowly and no matter how much cursing.
This is the best analogy of the economic crisis I have read yet. I too stepped in real dog poop this week. It was gross, it was smelly, it made me mad and embarrassed -- but I got passed it.
I never thought about it as a snippet for handling the crap in life.
thanks
Posted by: thom singer | January 17, 2009 at 08:21 AM
This is one of the best blog postings on the topic. Here's one guy who will share it with others.
Posted by: oggigorilla | January 17, 2009 at 08:34 AM
Upwards and onwards. There's a rumour that the upturn's due to start autumn this year. We'll see.
Posted by: Maggy Young | January 18, 2009 at 02:52 AM
Nice post, Andy. This is the time where players play, and that goes for both entrepreneurs and investors. We're playing! Doo doo be damned.
Posted by: David Stern | January 18, 2009 at 07:47 PM
Once Obama is inaugurated you won't have to worry about this kinda of thing happening ever again...
Posted by: Ryan | January 19, 2009 at 10:49 PM
plaese look, in hamburg it is unpossible not to step in dogshit! greetings, gegapock!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h7S7H-PGhc
Posted by: gegapock | February 06, 2011 at 03:36 PM