Hustling Like A Lion

The king of the jungle has a classy style of hunting, it's strategic and much of the animal kingdom hunts this way, which I think aligns with Nature to a certain degree.

Because it's amoral, we tend to romanticize it or, conversely, view it as cruel. Watching documentaries about the ways of life of the animal kingdom was a favourite pastime hobby of mine.

I think there's a profound lesson hidden in this natural order that we tend to view as amoral.

Why should I work tirelessly day and night, when I can just leverage technology and connections to get results much faster or achieve my goals with minimal effort?
In our modern, fast-paced world, it's a very relevant question.

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Nature's Rhythm vs. Modern Hustle

One could argue that the main premise of civilization is to make and do things faster and better from our own collective viewpoint. That's why we've built machines, developed software, and created systems all aimed at increasing efficiency and productivity. Perhaps, also reducing the uncertainty around us and gaining more "control" over our environment.

The catch is in our relentless pursuit of progress, we've developed an effect that somehow convinced ourselves that non-stop, extreme work is the true path to success.

The rationale is usually the more work we put in now, the more rewards we'll reap in the future. This linear thinking always fails to account for the law of diminishing returns and potential burnout that come with overworking, for example.

So we accustomed ourselves to the proverbial hustle culture, wearing our exhaustion as a badge of honor. The catchphrase 'I'll sleep when I'm dead' captures it perfectly!

This phrase encapsulates the extreme work ethic often glorified in hustle culture, where rest is seen as a weakness or a luxury that can be indefinitely postponed.

In a way, hard work has been overrated to the extend that it has become a trap.

But when you really ponder about it, you often come to realize that this approach is actually counterproductive in the grand scheme of things.

Lessons from the Savannah

Let's turn our attention back to the lion. Despite their reputation as fierce predators, lions actually spend more time resting than hunting in a day, up to 20 hours a day resting.

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Whether this is part of the natural rhythms or not, transposing it into our modern work lives can hold a valuable lesson for us.

For one, the confusion between activity and productivity. It's been said numerous times already that being busy doesn't necessarily mean being productive.

For me, what I've taken away with that is being productive is always tied to having a vision and clarity on what you want to achieve. If that's not there, then activity for the most part can be wasted effort.

Quantity doesn't always equal quality either, especially when it comes to creative or knowledge-based work.

This can be defined as work that requires critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation rather than repetitive tasks.

Such type of work has become more or less prevalent as the digital age has shifted many jobs towards information and service-based roles.

Hustle Smarter, Not Harder

Consider this: when was the last time you had your best idea while frantically multitasking? Chances are, it came during a moment of relaxation or while focusing deeply on a single task.

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Maybe our brain is similar to lions in that regard, it performs best when we allow for periods of rest and recovery between intense bursts of activity. Which would you prefer, a linear work activity or a non-linear work activity?

So how can we apply the lion's hustling wisdom to our modern lives? Here are a few strategies:

1. Work in focused sprints: Like a lion stalking its prey, give your full attention to important tasks for set periods, then allow for recovery time.

2. Prioritize ruthlessly: Lions don't chase every antelope they see. Similarly, focus your energy on the tasks that truly matter.

3. Respect your natural rhythms: Recognize when you're most alert and productive, and schedule your most important work for those times.

4. Value rest and recovery: Don't view downtime as wasted time. It's essential for maintaining peak performance.

Thanks for reading!! Share your thoughts below on the comments.