The Ant and the Ox

“An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.”
Lao Tzu (600-531); philosopher

I love this quote by Lao Tzu. The ox dozing in the sun represents our best intentions. But if you look closely by the hoof of the dozing ox, you'll spot the tiny ant walking by, carefully carrying its load for the day. That tiny bit the ant carries every day is the little piece we can take action on, however small.

When we're working in our business, we allow the pace and daily demands to distract us from ever working on our business. Working "on" the business is focusing on the part that grows the business, the part that will fill the funnel with new opportunities.

For most of us, the "work on my business" part of the brain is the ox, dozing in the warmth of the certainty that "one day when I'm well-rested, I'll spring up and do the heavy work."

Well, send flowers: That ox isn't dozing. He's dead.

All we really have at our disposal is the dedication of the ant. That fantasy month where our calendar gives us wide open space? It ain't coming.

However, every day, if we do one small thing that represents a genuine effort to work on the business, rather than responding within the business, we'll eventually accomplish a tremendous amount towards growing our influence, business, and income.

Jill Carlisle