5 Life Lessons from Honey Badger (because he don’t care)
Lately, our company has been going through the best-selling business leadership book, Good to Great by Jim Collins. Featured in the book is the “Hedgehog Concept”, which serves as an illustration of why we should master one simple thing. In the Hedgehog’s case, he has an amazing simple defense with is his spiky needle-hair and ability to roll up in a ball. Foxes and other animals may try to be sly to take him down but he does this one simple thing really well and succeeds.
It got me thinking about other ferocious little animals we can learn from today.
Apparently 37 million people on YouTube agree that the Honey Badger is a hero to all nations. I kind of feel like this blog would be best if I could do a video post and imitate the narrator of the popular video. But I don’t because it would be terrible in my voice so here is my attempt to make further use of Honey Badger. As an homage to Honey Badger and “Randall”, the voice behind the narration, here are five life lessons from Honey Badger.
1. He is patient. Honey Badger always takes his time and goes at his pace. When attacked by other animals, he simply waits them out because his endurance is better than theirs. Does he set goals? Probably not but in his head he just knows what he needs to do and does it well because of his patience.
2. He is not a people pleaser. Honey Badger doesn’t care what other animals are doing or what they think about his activities. This behavior is incredibly intriguing because I fall into this trap of pleasing too many people.
3. He is resilient and focused. Honey Badger gets knocked down and gets back up and keeps going. When Cobra takes Honey Badger down with venom, he accepts the short loss but then quickly gets back up and is on to his original task. We all experience failure like Honey Badger. But we like Honey Badger need to recognize that this is only a short setback and we need to get back up and eat Cobra. When he’s being attacked by a swarm of bees and other animals are trying to snatch his food that he caught, Honey Badger stays focused on his prize.
4. He knows how to use the right tools: Honey Badger is known to adapt tools in his environment to dig holes and move objects when his claws won’t do.
5. He focuses on his strengths. Honey Badger doesn’t try to fly. Honey Badger doesn’t try to juggle too many rats. What is his Good to Great “Hedgehog Concept”? He probably eats Hedgehogs of course.
All this being said, the only weakness I can find in Honey Badger is that he is a bit of a lone ranger and doesn’t seem to work well with other Honey Badgers. Then again Honey Badger would simply say to me, “I don’t give a $#!&.” So be it, Honey Badger.
What else can we learn from Honey Badger?
Ditching the Pacifier
The past few weeks my lovely wife Brooke and I have been talking about a strategy to get rid of “The Pacifier”.
Duh duh duh…
Yes, any parent out there knows exactly what I’m talking about. The pacifier is just about the best and worst invention created for a young child. We have a 19 month and recently turned 3 year old. We knew that if we tried to get rid of these things both would need to do it at the same time.
No turning back.
Truth is we have been trying to do this ever since our oldest was 17 months old and our youngest was born. It just didn’t stick. They love their pacifier. It soothes them. I get it. I like a nice cup of java every morning because it does something similar to me. Our girls call the pacifier a “Bobby” anyway. We keep asking “Who is this Bobby?!?!” Can we punch this kid because we hate this thing you so eloquently call ‘Bobby’?” Our oldest girl just picked up the name “Bobby” from a friend of hers. It has stuck. (In the future I sure hope she doesn’t date some guy named Bobby because I’ll immediately dislike him.) Nevertheless, I read here about 150 other variations of names that kids call them. I hate them all and you should too.
As suggested by some friends (I think), we bagged up all of the pacifiers in our house and took them to a toy store. We promised the girls they could exchange their pacifiers for a baby doll of their choice. We tipped off the person at the cash register that we’d do this and when we made the “exchange of goods” the girls had no problem whatsoever. But we knew once nap time would come all hell would break loose. Oh and it did. The house became like “Nam” as portrayed in the movie Apocalypse Now. It’s been pure psychological warfare since with lots of crying. The kids scream out for their beloved “Bobby” and we fight the urge to give in. When faced with stressful situations like this I get a little bit like Clark Griswold and well…lose it. If it weren’t for Brooke’s patience with me (her other man-child husband), I don’t know how else we would get through. Brooke and I have been committed to this so despite the kids’ screaming fits we’ll get through it. Last but not least, we prayed for strength and lots of it. God has delivered.
It has been almost 3 days since “Ditching the Bobby” and all is quiet on the Western Front. We suspect that most of this week they will still ask for it. It’s a lesson in life I suppose.
I pray that our oldest girl doesn’t lose her naps because of these but this is all part of the growing up experince. She’ll get through it as will we.
My advice to other parents out there. You’ll make it through. We all will.
The Toughest Job In The World
I’ve double-bag caddied for 36 holes on 100 degree days.
I’ve worked 70 hour weeks in the office.
I’ve mowed a dozen lawns in one day.
But, there is nothing that could have prepared me enough for the toughest job in the world…
Parenting.
These past few days my wife Brooke has been out of town thus entrusting our two and a half year old and 11 month old to my so called capable hands. I’ll admit that I have had help as my mother is a saint for coming in town to help. In these past two days we have looked at each other and said “How does Brooke do it?”
There have been moments I have been proud of this weekend. There has also been times that I’ve had to ask forgiveness of my mother by stressing out and taking things out on her. I have to do that often to my wife as well so my poor mom is taking it for the team. Hey even Clark Griswold got to lose it here and there in National Lampoon’s Vacation.
I can only come up with one conclusion.
It is time to lighten up and enjoy this process.
I thoroughly love my kids and the being a dad no matter how hard it can be sometimes. This weekend we’ve gone to the pool twice, taken fun walks with our dog Winston, ran around the yard, made up a small inflated pool on our deck, created art, listened to music, ran around the mall, and yes I confess we even watched a little of the PGA Championships and a St. Louis Cardinals game. This is just part of the dad life I suppose and I’m still getting used to it.
I’d propose an end to trying to do this parenting thing alone. Even if you are divorced raising children, you are still not alone. The earlier we admit that we can’t do it all and all of it perfectly, the better off we will be. The more we rely on friends, family, and God to take care of us and give us patience, creativity, and forgiveness, the more fun we will have. I am ready.
If you are single reading this or are married without kids just watch and observe the parents out there. Learn from their mistakes, learn from their successes. Parents can’t imagine life without kids, it’s an adventure.
Both kids are taking naps as I write this by the way. Why am I not napping? Yep, because there is always something to do.
I’d love to hear some of your parenting stories and lessons. How do you get through the hardest days?
PS If you need a good piece of entertainment as a married couple with kids, watch Date Night with Tina Fey and Steve Carell. Last but not least if you didn’t catch the “The Dad Life” video, you’ll love this.
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