Forged in Fire

Just last week, I spent some time diving into this great analogy that I read about via Tim Ferriss’ awesome newsletter, “5-Bullet-Friday.” (You can read that blog post here.)

Said analogy is what I call “The Gazelle vs The Field Mice.”

Essentially, it is comparing the value in hunting large victories, vs small ones which is analogous to a lion seeking out gazelle vs field mice as a food source.

This opens up quite the window for interpretation which surely depends upon many factors. Deciding which is the best option can be a loaded task, no doubt. 

When I sit back and consider this dilemma (which, if you couldn’t tell, I have been doing with strong frequency,) my line of thinking continues to return to the setting of goals – another topic that I’ve covered in great detail in the past. 

At my current place in this life, with many decades ahead of me, goal setting is something that takes up a large amount of my headspace.

What do I want to achieve as a professional? As a father and a husband? What about my physical fitness – something that means a lot to me – what goals are associated with this? Furthermore, how do I intend to reach said goals?

It can seem daunting, and to be frank, oftentimes it does. 

Where I stand today, and where I hope to see myself 10, 20, 50  years from now … what do I as a man need to put into my daily practice(s) in order to reach these goals that I will ultimately set for myself?

The reality that presents itself here is that when we set these goals for ourselves, be it the larger macro, or the smaller micro goals associated with them we must then decide what targets we need to set and what benchmarks must be achieved along the way in order to reach said goals.

Here is where I draw the comparison to the aforementioned analogy regarding the gazelle versus the field mice.

Undoubtedly there will be times where it makes sense to chase down the gazelle – of course, only if a gazelle presents itself. But what about when it doesn’t? What happens when you’re left with nothing but small field mice scurrying from place to place and it seems as though there is no hope for the larger prize? Do you call it quits and stop the hunt altogether?

Of course not.

How can you expect to sustain a life if this is the case?

I’ll answer this for you … you can’t.

Now, I know I’m a bit all over the place with this analogy in the connections I draw to goal setting within my own life, but what I hoped to portray is this:

You never know what this life will give you. We all face periods of time where we feel up against it, whatever “it” is to you. These are the moments when there is no gazelle insight, which is to say there are no large goals with arms reach, or even remotely conceivable at a given moment time. 

These things are inevitable. Unavoidable, if you will. 

At a time where the end goal might seem so out there (which will surely occur,) what are we left to do? 

This is where the value in the micro goals comes into the fold, and where the real progress can be made. 

The value in chipping away at the field mice until the gazelle comes into the fray. Sharpening your skills and doing what needs to be done until the time is right. Working tirelessly and persistently until the time to strike was just right.

Think about the connection this might have to the life you are currently living. The goals you have set, or perhaps those that you know you should.

Chew on it for a while, and then take some action.

Forge on.

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