In his book Rhinoceros Success, Scott Alexander uses the humorous comparison between the life of a rhinoceros and a cow as motivation for readers to charge toward opportunity. He does not want you to be a cow. In the jungle of life, cows are content for life to pass them by while they sit in the pasture, grazing all day. They procrastinate, worry, complain, and are generally lazy. In fact, they don’t even enter the jungle.
On the other hand, a rhinoceros charges full speed toward the opportunities ahead. More than just a business philosophy, it’s a life philosophy.
What are the habits of a charging rhinoceros?
- They rise ready to face the day.
- They charge after their goals.
- They have a thick skin to handle adversity, a “damn-the-torpedoes spirit.”
- They charge after one goal/one step at a time and don’t take on too much.
- They are always alert and ready to charge down opportunities.
- They believe they can succeed.
- They love life.
The good new is anyone can be a rhino! It’s all in your mind. The first step to becoming a rhinoceros is to declare yourself as one!
Alexander encourages readers to create two note cards. The first one has the following statement:
“I am a rhinoceros! I have a damn-the-torpedoes spirit! I am full of energy and I can’t wait to get up in the morning to start charging!”
The second card states a goal you are pursuing from the perspective of having already achieved it. My current goal card reads:
By completing altMBA, I have regained my confidence and I am amply equipped to take on new challenges and solve problems in creative ways. (October 2015)
While these affirmations are great motivators, they must be combined with action. And a rhinoceros takes action! Being a rhinoceros takes self-discipline. You are in charge of yourself. The more energy you put into something, the more you will get from it.
So as we begin altMBA, create your own cards with your goal. It’s time to charge full speed ahead. We are all rhinos!