Story of the Lion & Antelope (Cont)

Article Date: 9/19/2021

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Story of the Lion & Antelope: [Continued]

The lion and the antelope analogy was first shared by Newt Gingrich, former speaker in the US House of Representatives. A lion is fully capable of capturing, killing and eating a field mouse. But it turns out that the energy required to do so far exceeds the caloric content of the mouse itself. So, a lion that spends it day hunting and eating field mice would slowly starve to death. A lion can’t live on field mice. A lion needs antelope. Antelopes are big animals. They take more speed and strength to capture and kill. And once killed, they provide a feast for the lion and her pride. So, ask yourself at the end of the day, “Did I spend today chasing mice or hunting antelope?”.

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Thats a terrific question. Have you been busy chasing mice or antelope each day of your life?. Gingrich says, “what’s true for lions is true for us and our teams too. We focus on the easy stuff and simple tasks, instead of going after more challenging pursuits that would stretch us and force us to give our best".

Why do we do that? First, mice are easier to catch. Second, catching mice makes us feel that we are busy all day. And, third when we embark on the journey of catching mice, we get the feeling that success is assured, unlike the pursuit of an antelope which could result in failure.

So people do what’s convenient than what’s needed.

Businesses and teams win when they turn their attention to the most important task at hand. It won’t be easy but it needs to be done. So, it's better as an individual or as a team, we pause and check: Are you chasing mice instead of the the antelope?

Michaelangelo said, “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it”.

Forget the mice and focus on the antelope.

Source: Prakash Iyer’s book, “How come no one told me that?”

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