Realizations from The Tortoise and The Hare

The Tortoise and The Hare

Many of us have heard of the Aesop’s Fable of The Tortoise and the Hare.

A recap! The Hare mocks the Tortoise for being slow. The Tortoise declares that he can get to a place sooner than the Hare. The Hare is amused but agrees to run a race with the Tortoise. The Hare becomes complacent midway and lays down to take a nap. The Tortoise maintains a steady pace and wins the race.

My takeaways from this fable:

1.      The Hare mocked the Tortoise for being slow. The Tortoise did not brag but showed his strength by being a steady performer. Show your mettle in action and not by bragging about your strengths.

2.      Don’t compare yourself with another who is not your equal or is not superior to you. The Hare slowed down because he compared his pace with that of the Tortoise. Would he have slowed down when racing with another Hare or with the Cheetah. Choose your opponent wisely. A worthy opponent can bring out the best in you.

3.      Perform at your best even when the odds are stacked against you. The Tortoise could have easily lost confidence when he was mocked at by the Hare. But he was focused on performing his best. In the race, he did not get demotivated when he saw that the Hare had disappeared from his sight. He focused on his own path, and steadily progressed. This ensured that the Tortoise eventually won the race.

Let us apply this to our financial life.

The earning and saving potential of no two individuals is the same. Factors like our family commitments, risk appetite, dreams and retirement plans are unique to each individual and family. Do not compare your achievements with others. Surround yourself with people better than yourself so your pace quickens automatically.

A good financial plan is the starting point. Rather than blindly copying what others with different financial capabilities are doing, sticking to a well thought out financial plan will ensure that you achieve your goals. Focus on what is best for you.

So, who are you?

Are you the Hare who performs only when comparing himself with others. Or are you the Tortoise who plods on and achieves his goal even when others are taking it easy.

Are you the Hare who does sprints without a definite plan. Or are you the Tortoise who systematically takes small incremental steps towards your goal.