My wife and I often take our kids to the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT for a couple of hours. It’s close by, we enjoy a pleasant walk and the zoo is managed well, with a lot of committed people making improvements and educating its visitors. One thought that strikes me often, though, is about the big animals. As we head into a well deserved weekend, I will keep it brief, but challenge you to consider this as well.
Every time we visit, one of the big animals – usually the bear or the tiger – is pacing back and forth, repeating the same actions over and over. Walk forward ten feet, bob to the left, return to the starting point, repeat. It will do this for hours. Does your job ever make you feel like that? You are going through the motions until feeding time (payday), pacing your cubical, and waiting for the day to end so you can get some freedom.
What would that freedom look like? What mountain would your inner bear traverse and what jungle would your inner tiger hunt if you would only let it out of the cage? Why not take some time this weekend to explore how you could make those dreams more real? Instead of just thinking about it, do something. People who succeed aren’t paralyzed by fear or failure. They take risks, learn from mistakes and move on. Go ahead, open the cage! Have a great weekend.
Work: Getting It & Keeping It 