Some Days…It’s All You’ve Got
I learned a new term recently... Have you heard of "kedging"?
Yeah, neither had I.
(Until I read about it in a book...but that's another article for another day. 😉 )
I had always wondered about the pure sailing MO - you know…before motors and propellers were a thing.
What if I need to go over there, straight into a strong headwind?
Or worse. What if there is no wind at all?
Some ships may be able to go to oars, I guess. But those really big tall ships? What did they do?!?
I give you "kedging".
They would load an anchor into a longboat, paddle a good distance in the direction they wanted to go, drop anchor...
...and PULL!
The crew would literally pull the ship to the anchor point.
Then they would reload the longboat, paddle out as far as they could go in the desired direction, drop anchor, and PULL again.
Over, and over, and over until they reached their desired place - in port, in harbor, off the rocks, away from danger, etc...
That sounds like a lot of hard, inefficient work. But it got the job done when the job needed to get done.
How about you?
As a leader with major responsibility to others and to your organization, have you ever felt stuck? Low on motivation? Lost the wind in your sails? Up against the rocks?
Maybe you need to consider "kedging" for a spell.
Yes, it will be really hard, inefficient work. Archaic, even.
When you’re stuck, that doesn’t really matter.
Because movement in a positive direction, despite the level of struggle, sure beats listing aimlessly, adrift on the sea, doesn't it?
Examples:
It can be difficult to stay consistent with a workout regimen. Kedging might look like paying good money for a difficult competition 3 months from now and inviting others along for the shared experience. Then doing the same thing 3 months after that, and then 3 months after that...
Having a hard time finishing that home improvement project you've been procrastinating on? Kedging might involve inviting friends to a party at your place. Bonus points for labeling it a "new project reveal" party.
Losing momentum on business strategy development for the next phase of growth? Kedging might require hard-scheduling a 3-day offsite retreat that includes hiring a 3rd party facilitator and strategy consultant (that will assign pre-work you and others are required to complete), and paying them, in full, up front.
These domino-tip actions are bulky and inefficient, for sure. They can be expensive, too. (The latter being a motivational factor in-and-of itself!)
But, they also get you off your duff and move you forward in a desired direction. They get the ball rolling. And, eventually, they get the job done.
That's kedging.
And some days, when there is no wind to be found, this is a call the leader must make.
Blessings to you, my friends!
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This Week’s Resource Recommendation:
"The Kedge Anchor; or, Young Sailor's Assistant (Dover Maritime)" – William Brady
Do you value the occasional mental diversion? Do you spend time considering knowledge completely outside of your lane?? Can you and I even imagine how hard life was on the open sea in the mid-1800s??? If you’re interested in stretching your brain a little in a new direction, this might be the ticket…
From Amazon: Immediately upon its publication in the mid-nineteenth century, this book became the Bible of U.S. sailors, who used it daily and followed its advice assiduously. The Kedge-Anchor's no-nonsense prose provided specific instruction for every aspect of sailing the great ships of the age — from knotting and rigging to blacking the guns, from stationing the crew to dealing with the direst emergencies.
The young sailor learns about stowing provisions, driving before the wind. Securing the ship for sea, and setting and shifting course. He also learns what to do in the extremities of life at sea: how to unbend a topsail in a gate and how to prepare for a hurricane; what to do if the tiller breaks, the mainmast is carried away, or the ship leaks faster than the pumps can free her. Detailed instructions explain procedures for dealing with fires, squalls, and waterspouts, what to do when the main rigging is shot away by an enemy or when a man has fallen overboard, and how to abandon ship and take to the boats when necessary.
Enhanced with 70 rare engravings, a glossary of sea terms, and 10 pages of useful tables, this hard-to-find volume is a genuine maritime classic and an unparalleled glimpse into the realities of shipboard life in the days of sail.
MMS 24-20
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Blessings to you, my friend!
