“The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground.”
Shielded for Success
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life
A tortoise’s most notable trait is its shell. It’s a mobile home that protects it from outside threats. This means a tortoise has a level of confidence which allows it to slough off most concerns that come its way.
Unfortunately, humans don’t come equipped with this same shell for our own protection. Developing emotional resilience is key for all of us. There will always be criticism, setbacks, and distractions that threaten to derail our progress. But like the tortoise, we can create our own “protective shell” that shields us from the negativity and outside pressures we face. Don’t let others put their stress on you. This doesn’t mean ignoring important feedback or avoiding challenges; rather, it means maintaining a calm and steady focus on what we can control and what really matters, no matter the noise around us.
It’s easy to get caught up in the rush for quick wins. The tortoise reminds us that consistency is far more valuable in the end. Success is about steady, deliberate progress, even when the pace feels slow.
In a world that rewards speed, the approach of slow and steady progress might seem risky. However, the tortoise finishes the race not because it’s the fastest, but because it never stops moving forward. Even when it’s hard, even when others are racing ahead, and even when the outcome seems uncertain.
The tortoise doesn’t let external circumstances control its actions. Similarly, effective leaders don’t let stress or pressure dictate their decisions. Instead, they remain calm under pressure and make decisions based on long-term impact, not immediate gratification.
Resilient. Steady. Deliberate. With a focus on long-term success, we find strength in a tortoise’s “bring it on attitude.” And we then cross the finish line on our terms.
“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.”
— John Quincy Adams
Connecting this quote to the story. Consistent patience and perseverance allows the tortoise to overcome challenges and reach success, even when others falter or doubt.
Chasing Influence tip: Great leaders build emotional resilience, creating a protective ‘shell’ that shields them and their teams from distractions.
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
Updates on Chasing Influence
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life is available in Kindle, softcover, hardcover, and audiobook editions.
For additional resources, links to podcast appearances, and other Chasing Influence news, click here.
©Troy Urdahl, 2024