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You don’t have to outrun a lion. You just have to outrun your competition.
If you’re like me, you’re your harshest critic. I try to be kind to myself and mindful that progress is progress no matter how small. But I’m also human so I’m not immune to berating myself — especially as the year ends — for goals unmet or (self-imposed) milestones missed.
I recently saw a Red Bull commercial that helped me change my perspective. In it, two antelopes come across a lion in the jungle. One antelope trembles in fear while the other appears unfazed, his confidence buoyed by his energy drink. The first antelope is adamant that, even fueled by Red Bull, they could never outrun a lion.
The second antelope smiles and reminds his friend that he doesn’t have to be faster than the lion. He just has to be faster than his friend.
The commercial is a light-hearted take on the fable of the lion and the gazelle on the key to survival. To paraphrase the story, the lion must outrun the slowest gazelle and the gazelle must outrun the fastest lion. Either way, when the sun rises, they both better be running.
