We often hear people use the metaphor/proverb/analogy for tackling big challenges described like: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”. But why does no one ever talk about the rotting elephant?
The Math of a Dead ElephantSo hear me out…..
If I had a newly dead adult African elephant, weighing around 12,000 pounds, in my office (we won’t go into the specifics as to how this elephant came to be in my office, nor how it died), it would take me around 10 years to eat it one bite at a time.
In 10 years, that elephant would be so disgustingly rotten, I would never be able to finish eating it (or I would die from some sort of horrible infection).
Why This Metaphor Doesn’t Work
So why do so many continue to use such a metaphor? It isn’t realistic and is kinda gross.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
You would need around 1,000-2,000 people to finish off that elephant before it starts to spoil, or implement some kind of preservation technique. Teamwork is clearly the key to tackling this monumental task (as it is for most big challenges).
Since we are talking about an African elephant, an African proverb feels fitting: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
A Better Version of the Elephant Metaphor
I think a better extension of the metaphor would be “How do you eat an elephant? You set the table and invite a team.”
Ponder This
- What’s your current “elephant,” and are you trying to eat it alone when you should invite a team to the table?
- Who could you invite to your “table” to share the load?
Books/Newsletters
- Optimism: An Essay - Helen Keller
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