When sitting together with my friend and colleague Nicole Stokman, owner at Atelier Lazuli, in her garden to discuss a business venture we want to do together, suddenly a hedgehog came rummaging through the leaves and bushes and looked at us. Clear sunny daylight, they almost never come to sight and now we could grab him.

What a delight we both said and Nicole went into the house to prepare some peanut butter sandwiches for the little fellow. He ate it all.

Usually I go for the shaman interpretation of such a happening and here are the symbols and energy of hedgehog: teaches how to be on the defence and how to protect yourself, shows how to be gentle, yet protective at the same time, barriers that discourage negative people, the symbol of the Wisdom of the Female Elder, with close ties to Mother Earth. Walking on earth with lightness and wonder and balance between work and play, taking opportunities that make you happy. Being confident and with strength. Also the food has message. Peanut butter keeps the head cool, emotions straight and is able to go to the dream state but also facilitate the earth connection - thus wisdom to earth without running dead roads. Hedgehogs also love bananas: which is a fruit that stimulates to do the best you are capable of, to be in contact with your essence. Concentration within in clear consciousness. So far so good.

Talking about business there is another angle to the hedgehog experience: The Hedgehog Concept!

The story of the fox and the hedgehog:

“The fox is a cunning creature, able to devise a myriad of complex strategies for sneak attacks upon the hedgehog. Day in and day out, the fox circles around the hedgehog’s den, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. Fast, sleek, beautiful, fleet of foot, and craftly – the fox looks like the sure winner. The hedgehog, on the other hand is a dowdier creature, looking like a genetic mix-up between a porcupine and a small armadillo. He waddles along, going about his simple day, searching for lunch and taking care of his home.

The fox waits in his cunning silence at the juncture in the trail. The hedgehog, minding his own business, wanders right into the path of the fox. “Aha, I’ve got you now!” thinks the fox. He leaps out, bounding across the ground, lightning fast. The little hedgehog, sensing danger, looks up and thinks, “Here we go again. Will he ever learn?” Rolling up into a perfect little ball, the hedgehog becomes a sphere of sharp spikes, pointing outward in all directions. The fox, bounding toward his prey, sees the hedgehog defense and calls off the attack. Retreating back to the forest, the fox begins to calculate a new line of attack. Each day, some version of this battle between the hedgehog and the fox takes place, and despite the greater cunning of the fox, the hedgehog always wins.”

Bron: Collins, Jim (2001). Good to Great. New York, Harper Business, p. 90-91 and http://www.nieuwww.nl/blog/2009/02/18/het-egelprincipe-de-essentie-van-succesvol-ondernemen/

Companies who does best are like hedgehogs. Not attitude or plan, no blinking, no strategy - they work from insight - thus the wisdom of the female elder, the intuition, wisdom.

It is a matter of essence of your company, just like I wrote to you in my article Company Birth certificate http://hemelwandelaar.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/company-birth-certificate/

It is an intuitive knowledge about what's best for your company. This way of marching your parade is a better one than the big show off of the speedy, blinking top guy who only looks at how to run a show and make as much money as possible even if he/she has to sell their souls to the devil.

So happy us having the hedgehog around in our meeting. And indead my friend and I love rummaging gardens and so does hedgehog.

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