If you read my blog from last week, you know I love to fish. If you didn’t, please have a fun read here, if you wish. It was all about preparation for an activity whether it’s fishing, business or really, whatever.
As I discussed, preparation is key in order to reduce the chances of your success being thwarted. If you don’t prepare for success, you may get lucky and hit the proverbial lottery, but preparation is so much better. Not to mention, while preparing we are also learning.
I really wish I could remember the first fish I ever caught. It was probably a trout in that stream in New Mexico I talked about in my last blog post with my grandpa and my dad watching. But I don’t remember.
In fact, I don’t remember many of the fish I caught. But I can tell you that I remember almost every single experience. From the preparation to the actual fishing, sometimes catching and then the ride home chatting up the trip with my brothers, my grandpa, my dad or whoever I went with. There’s a reason they call it fishing and not catching. Catching is the icing on the cake or as I mentioned last time, the butter on the biscuit.
But fishing for me is the entire experience. I can’t say that over the years I’ve caught a lot of fish. I’ve caught small ones, and I’ve got big
ones. And if I’m totally honest, I have, not caught very many fish as compared to how many times I’ve been out fishing.
When my boys got older, we used to go deep-sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico with the same guide almost every Summer. We like working with him because he guides us to the fish. And we always catch the limit. Sometimes we would throw back many fish and sometimes we would offer some of our catch to our guide or other folks who were less lucky that day.
A few months ago my son happened to have a day off in the middle of the week and he took my 5-year old grandson fishing. They didn’t catch 
anything and my son was a little disappointed. But my grandson was ecstatic and all he could talk about was that he went fishing with his dad and he was so happy. He told us all about his fishing pole, how he could make a perfect cast and how his daddy helped him. He went fishing for the experience of being with his dad and having fun.
The act of actually catching something is an art in my opinion. If I never get to go fishing again, I’ll be disappointed. But no one can take away those memories of the experience of fishing.
So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!
In business, when you are looking for customers to connect with you are fishing. But you are not quite catching unless you follow a proven formula or unless you get very, very lucky. In my last blog I talked about Virtual Video Formula. But in this post I will review it in a way to show how fishing, or catching in this instance, is very similar to catching customers in business.
- The Hook: In fishing, the hook is literally what you use to grab the fish’s attention. You carefully select the right bait or lure based on what will attract the fish you’re targeting. Just like in a video, where the goal is to immediately grab the viewer’s attention with something captivating or surprising, the fisherman uses a shiny lure, a tempting worm, or a flashy jig to attract the fish’s curiosity. Without an effective hook, the fish—and viewers (potential customers)—just keep swimming past.
- The Buildup: Once you’ve got the fish nibbling, you don’t yank immediately—you carefully build anticipation by letting the line go slack or applying a gentle tug. You’re keeping the fish interested. In a video, this step involves storytelling, creating an emotional connection or anticipation to keep viewers engaged. For the fisherman, this is the dance of patience and skill, ensuring the fish remains intrigued enough to stay on the line.
- The Delivery: This is when the fisherman sets the hook, reeling in the catch with precision and strength. It’s the moment when the hard work pays off, and the intention becomes clear. In the context of a video, this is where the core message or solution is delivered—concise, impactful, and exactly what the viewer needs. Just as the fish is “hooked” and ready to be reeled in, the viewer is ready to receive the value or information being shared.
- Call to Action (CTA): In fishing, this is the final act of reeling in the catch and securing it in your net or boat. It’s the conclusion of the entire process, leading to a successful outcome. In a video, this is where you encourage your viewers to take the next step—whether it’s subscribing, sharing, clicking a link, or purchasing a product. Just as a fisherman needs to ensure the fish doesn’t slip away before landing it, your CTA needs to be strong and compelling, so the viewer knows exactly what action to take next.
In both fishing and creating a video, each step builds upon the last. Success relies on engaging the target, building their interest, delivering exactly what’s needed, and then guiding them toward a desired outcome with a confident close. 🎣📹
Like actual fishing, my intent is to catch, but first I must fish. I source my customers and I must entice them with value, not just bait them, and communicate they will gain benefit from what I have to offer.
I’m always fishing. I’m always talking. I’m always asking questions. I’m always trying to meet the needs of the people around me whether I’m trying to promote my product or I’m trying to connect with someone.
Running an online business for me is an experience and one that I treasure. I never knew how rewarding it would be to work for myself and to offer value and meet the needs of people looking for their own solutions and achieve their own goals.
The key is to always be at it. To always try to improve. To always try and learn. And to always try to do your best in the most ethical, honest and helpful way.
When you do these things you are truly “fishing” and when you meet the needs of a customer…now you’re “catching.”
As I said before, I loved to fish. Now, I’m off to check my statistics and data to see who I’ve reached and to communicate back out to them with additional information so that they can benefit from what I have to offer.
If you’ve read this far and are curious about me or my business, please let me know. Maybe we can go “fishing “together. We can teach each other and we can enjoy the experience.
Well, back to fishing and letting people know that I’m out here. Hopefully, I’ll meet some new colleagues and make some new friends while I’m at it.
“Fish where the fish are. Know where your customers gather and meet them there.” – Old marketing adage
“You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” – Zig Ziglar
And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:
“I wanted to start a new business selling boats, but I just couldn’t seem to make any waves.”
Why did the sales rep bring a pencil to the meeting? To draw in the customers!
Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!
**If you are curious about this process and wish to know more about an affiliate marketing business, please subscribe to my newsletter here to learn more. And please continue following my blog. My hope is not only to create the freedom I so long for but pass on what I have learned to others who have similar aspirations.
Hi Ernie, fishing is the art of creative waiting (see my blog post this week!) and this can be applied to our progress (or lack thereof) in our respective businesses. Impatience ruins the fun!! Patience contours up the image of a loving mother with a crying child. This metaphor works for our businesses, too.
I got up at 1 am this morning and read and all the blogs from last week! Onward to this week.
Hi Kate – I did read your blog post this week and it completely applies. I found so much value in your post and I commented how inspiring it was to me. Is something that we all do whether it’s in line, in front of a stoplight or just fishing. It’s what we do with that time in between that makes the difference. Thank you for your visit to my blog post and for your comment. Have a wonderful week!
I love reading your blogs, they always make my heart so full with how you connect lessons with your family. Your story about fishing with your family and the joy in the experience rather than just the catch gives it so much heart. And when you relate that to business—always working, learning, improving, but doing it honestly and for real connection—that’s powerful.
The way you wrap it up, inviting readers to go “fishing” with you, makes this feel like more than a blog; it’s an open invite to connect, learn, and grow together. Can’t wait to see who you catch next!
Thank you always sharing your experiences, I genuinely look forward to reading your posts.
Hi Sarah – Right back at you as I love reading your posts as well! I really do try to tell a story and most of the time it involves family as that is my “why.” I know you are in this business as well for your family as is evident by not only your posts but how you choose to run your business. Connecting with my family, my friends and my customers is key and something that I will always strive to do. I find value in these connections, and I really do love documenting my journey. Thank you for your visit, as always, to my blog posts! Have a great week!
We all hate preparation but it is still a necessary evil in my opinion as it builds up the anticipation of the event. I have such fond memories of fishing with my departed father, and helping my son catch his first Apache Trout in the Mogollon Rim Country in Arizona. I APPRECIATE THE GREAT VALUE YOU HAVE FOR YOUR FAMILY. Your online family appreciates you too. thanks again for a great blog.
Hi Ernie,
I absolutely loved reading this! Your comparison of fishing to business feels so relatable, especially with each step leading to that final catch. It really reminded me that success is as much about creating meaningful experiences and genuine connections as it is about reaching goals.
Thanks for sharing your unique perspective; I’m looking forward to learning more from you!
Meredith
Hi Meredith – Thank you for your visit to my post and I appreciate your nice comments. You are right, in my opinion, at each step is about creating the success and the final outcome. The experiences that we gather along the way are priceless and should never be taken for granted or forgotten. Have a great week!
Hi Scott – Your kind words really mean a lot to me as I do value my family very, very much! They got the reason why I do this business. The memories you have of your father are priceless and I can hear it in your reply. Have a great week!
Hey, Ernie! As always, I love your post! So much of the joy of life comes from the overall experience rather than the few moments of actually achieving a goal. This is such an important lesson in life. Thank you for sharing! It’s a fresh perspective of how to view my daily business routine. What a great view!
Nakina
Hi Nakina – Your visits and comments on my posts are very much appreciated! I do try to take all my life experiences and apply them to whatever I’m doing and right now it is to this online business. I tried to learn from everything. Thank you for your visit and I wish you a very successful and productive week!
Hey Ernie,
Great story – I loved how you tied it back to your business – the concepts are much the same.
I’m looking forward to taking my grandchildren fishing when I can. I’m waiting for hip surgery at the moment, so I can’t do much right now, but when the hip is fixed, I’ll definitely be taking them out on the water.
As I was reading your post, I was reminded of every time I’ve gone to the bait shop when I was about to head out for some fishing, and every time I asked what bait I should get, they always ask me what fish I am going after, so – as you say, the bait you use will depend on the target you are after – and it is the same with your videos.
I really like the way you brought those together.
Thanks Ernie.
Sean Street
Hi Sean – When you get to the point of taking your grandchildren fishing, I predict you’re going to love it! But I bet you already know that :). You are so correct in that choosing the right type of bait will hook the fish that you desire. We all must learn but to use as bait in order to attract the right customer so that they can see what we have to offer is truly valuable. Thanks for your perspective and I wish you a very productive week!
Hey Ernie! I really enjoyed Part 2 of your fishing series! Your reflections on the memorable experiences of fishing resonate deeply with me.
The way you compare fishing to running an online business is brilliant. Preparation is vital, and it’s all about creating meaningful connections, similar to engaging a fish. I appreciate the depth you bring to these topics, and I’m excited to see how you implement the techniques discussed. I’m sure great opportunities are on the horizon.
All the Best!
Hello – Thank you for your visit to my blog post and for your nice comments. I am glad you enjoyed reading this post and found some value in the content. Yes, fishing is a lot like running in all my business, right? I look forward to reading your posts as well. You have a real knack for delivering valuable and readable information. Have a great day!