When the tide turned, Forrest and Lt. Dan caught lots of shrimp!

The expression tide turns literally refers to the moment that the ocean waves change from incoming to outgoing (or vice versa). On average, the tidal waves turn four times daily with two high tides and two low tides. It’s precisely predictable.

Metaphorically, the tide turns when a complete reversal of circumstances occurs. In the movie Forrest Gump, the tide turned for Forrest after the hurricane destroyed all of the other shrimp boats. Forrest’s boat was the only one left standing in the water – and “after that, shrimpin’ was easy.” Prior to the hurricane, Forrest and Lt. Dan couldn’t catch shrimp – after the hurricane, the shrimp nets were full and bursting.

In our current economic circumstances, there has been business uncertainty since 2007. It started with the housing bust and banking/financial meltdown. Business and consumer confidence have been tepid at best ever since – almost four full years!

But sooner or later, the tide will turn. There are trillions of cash dollars waiting on the sidelines. Businesses have trimmed waste and have been operating leanly for several years. Employees have been working with cautiousness ever since. Anxiety has become the ‘new norm’. Positivity and possibilities will break out across the business spectrum, just as it’s already started in certain high-tech segments such as social media. A new wave is coming.

And unless you believe that America’s best days are forever over – a new wave coming is precisely predicable.

But when?

That is unknown. My guess is that some psychological event will trigger this new wave. That event will be significant.

So, in the meantime, I keep asking myself how I can be ready when it happens. I can feel it coming. The tide will turn.

So like Forrest, I keep working the nets and remaining focused on my goals.

What are you doing to prepare yourself for the next wave of opportunity?

What opportunity are you uniquely positioned to ride when the wave hits?

Will you be ready when the tide turns?

Next Blog Title:  Lackadaisical isn’t good enough

Next Blog Date:  August 18, 2011

Steve Weber is a Forrest Gump tribute artist, speaker, event maker, blogger, and aspiring author. He uses the simple, yet powerful, truths of Forrest Gump to turn meetings into events. You can learn more at SpeakingGump.com.

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