For the last two decades I have been fascinated by these interesting birds and their similarity with business as they go through unforgiving, life-threatening conditions just to survive each day. If you run a business, then you will be intrigued by the life of the emperor penguin and the lessons for survival they can teach us particularly if your business has been affected by COVID-19.
Every year, for about nine months of the year the emperor penguin puts itself through hell to achieve one single purpose - to hatch an egg!
To start its journey, the emperor penguin swims fast and gracefully in the water but then suddenly shoots out of the water with great speed like a torpedo to land on its feet on the ice. Then an endless caravan of hundreds of emperor penguins begins a trek of more than one hundred kilometres across the ice in step, and in silence. They move at a very slow penguin pace because the penguin is a very poor walker on land. When they reach their breeding ground, they mate and the male takes the egg into a pouch over his feet, he must now endure several months of blizzards and extremely low temperatures carefully balances the egg on his feet it remains warm and does not touch the ice while the egg hatches. These colonies together to huddle for warmth.
Climate change has added further challenges to their difficult lifestyle, and they have adapted by changing their journey routes and even climbing steep ice cliffs to breed on ice-shelves because of failure in the sea ice. All their energies are focused on ensuring their offspring survive. Very much like you in your business!
Success Lessons You Can Learn from the Emperor Penguin:
1. Maintain a positive attitude to suit your ever-changing environment.
2. Results require your total commitment and focused effort.
3. Planning ahead will increase your chance of success
4. Working together improves your survival chances.
5. Sometimes you must slide on your tummy.
6. It's easier when you swim with the tide.
7. Make your unique brand stand out.
8. Follow your instinct.
9. Persevere.
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