I recently went sailing on Lake Oahe in Central South Dakota but there was no wind. Strange because it's always windy in South Dakota, always. A sailboat is designed to operate when there is a stiff breeze and let me tell you; sailing is a whole lot more fun than drifting. However, although piloting a boat in a strong wind is very exhilarating it takes a lot more effort and can be more risky. If your are not careful you can quickly get off course or find your boat heeling (that's leaning over to one side for all you land lubbers) and not working as efficiently as possible.
Now, you're probably way ahead of me with the possible business analogies that can be drawn from sailing. My focus here is on creativity and innovation. New ideas, solutions, products, or processes usually don't come to us complete and perfectly formed. Often we have to take a germ of an idea or a gut feeling and just go with it. This can be a messy and chaotic. We may get off course and, at least for a while, take a few steps back. Ultimately the results will be worth it.
The other option is to play it safe and go slow or even drift. Going slow is no fun and drifting can be just as challenging as sailing close hauled in a gale (some more sailing lingo). There is nothing wrong with taking it easy once in a while but hour after hour of getting rocked by the wake from the motor boats zipping around you can make you sleepy, seasick, or both.
But what do you do when you're in a sailboat and there is no wind? Well, you can get off the water or you can find other ways to move the boat. My small boat also has a outboard motor. You say, "That isn't sailing!" I agree. But at least I was getting somewhere.
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