The Rainmaker

In North American Indian Culture one of the most important people were what was known as the Rainmakers.  They were often a Shaman who were purported to have special powers to bring rain, the lifeblood of any community and at the moment here in Australia we understand the need for rain as we live in the driest continent.  Our local gardens suffer, but not as much as the farmers who see rain as the most significant part of their livelihood.

In the business world these days we talk about the ‘Rainmakers’ as the people who simply bring in the business, they are possibly not the best operators but they have that uncanny knack of communication, and are always bringing in new business into the company no matter what that company does.   It could be someone who has the ability to just tell the organisational story so well that people are captivated and when contact is made, someone else might make the sale but it was the rainmaker who was the key person.  ‘It is the rainmaker who can see far to the horizon and know that there is always more ....’ and can pass that inspiration on to others who will want to be part of it.  We all need to see our role as part of that rainmaker culture,  to pass on the passion of what we do so that others will want to be part of our culture and possibly use our services.

It’s not always easy as some of us; no matter how committed; struggle to see a great deal of success, but the rainmakers role is making the rain and possibly others role to use that rain to grow crops, harvest fruit; make the sale or make the business profitable.  Sometimes it is just hard and it is easy to lose heart.

However;

Mike Jobling tells the story of an Indian tribe who were going through drought and saw that another tribe  over the mountains always had good rains, so they went and asked what was their secret and were told that they had to perform this dance and it would rain.  They did this and nothing happened so the went and asked again and were told that they didn’t do it long enough, so back they went and danced some more, but still it didn’t rain so back over the mountains they went and asked why the other tribe had such success.  “Simple...” was the answer “... we just Dance until it Rains”.  Persistence always pays off we just have to keep doing it.

A quote today from my very cheap diary –

“Getting things done, is not the same as making things happen”