With each new day in Africa, a gazelle wakes up knowing he must outrun the fastest lion or perish. At the same time, a lion stirs and stretches, knowing he must outrun the fastest gazelle or starve. It's no different for the human race. Whether you consider yourself a gazelle or a lion, you have to run faster than others to survive.
Interpretation
In life, both the strong and the weak must continuously strive to outpace their competitors to succeed.
This quote illustrates the relentless nature of survival, whether in the animal kingdom or among humans. It emphasizes that both the gazelle and the lion must push themselves daily— the gazelle to escape predation and the lion to secure its next meal. This metaphor extends to human existence, highlighting that success often requires individuals to be proactive and competitive in their pursuits, reminding us that regardless of our status, the pressure to improve and excel is universal.
In practice
This quote can be used as a motivational opener in a leadership seminar.
Most people talk; we do things. They plan; we achieve. They hesitate; we move ahead. We are living proof that when human beings have the courage and commitment to transform a dream into reality, there is nothing that can stop them.
My mother, may her soul rest in peace, shaped my personality; thanks to her, I have acquired many values, good traits and skills.
An easy life does not make men, nor does it build nations. Challenges make men, and it is these men who build nations.
There is no Dubai and Abu Dhabi; we are one. Whoever doesn't understand this should do their homework before they start talking. We will be there for each other when we need it.
The race for excellence has no finish line.
If you want to have a better performance than the crowd, you must do things differently from the crowd.
If I'd observed all the rules, I'd never have got anywhere.
The doing of something productive regardless of the outcome is an act of faith. The doing of a small something when a large something is too much for us is perhaps especially an act of faith. Faith means going forward by whatever means we can.
It's all about the work. Nothing is going to fall into your lap. If you want to be a lawyer, see yourself as a lawyer, go to the library and start learning the law. If you want to be a rapper, start rapping and get out there. Live your life as if you already are where you want to be.
Don't wait until you feel like taking positive action. Take the action and then you will feel like doing it.
Throughout my athletic career, the overall goal was always to be a better athlete than I was at the moment – whether next week, next month or next year. The improvement was the goal. The medal was simply the ultimate reward for achieving that goal.
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