Author: Sterling Hawkins
Problems, obstacles or roadblocks of some kind inevitably pop up on the way to our goals. I was recently reminded of a story about a dog and rabbit that exemplifies that oftentimes, problems may not be exactly what they seem to be on the surface. It takes courage to look deeper, even though it might […]
Problems, obstacles or roadblocks of some kind inevitably pop up on the way to our goals. I was recently reminded of a story about a dog and rabbit that exemplifies that oftentimes, problems may not be exactly what they seem to be on the surface. It takes courage to look deeper, even though it might be uncomfortable, to address what’s really at the root cause.
The story goes… after a long day at the office, a man comes home to find his dog with his neighbor’s beloved pet rabbit, Fluffy, dangling limp from his mouth. Covered in dirt, the rabbit is clearly dead. Horrified, the man panics because he knows the neighbors so cherish Fluffy, and he thinks to himself, that if they ever find out his dog killed their pet they’ll hate him forever!
The problem seems clear cut and straightforward, right? The consequences the man imagines seem realistic and just as clear, right? And that’s how most problems show up, don’t they? Unfavorable circumstances are presented to us, almost always when we least want to see them, and in that moment of decision it crystallizes in our thoughts exactly why the circumstance is a problem and what the implications will be. You might not even need time to think about it since it may seem so obvious what needs to be done.
In the story, the man takes the dead, dirty rabbit into his house and gives it a bath and blows it’s fur dry to “perfection”, concealing any possibility that his dog had anything to do with the rabbit’s death. The man then sneaks into the neighbor’s yard and places the perfectly groomed rabbit back in the hutch with a partially eaten carrot, suggesting the rabbit died from choking on the carrot.
How easy is it for us to jump straight into action on our assumptions when there’s a problem needing to be solved?
(As a side note, by the way, I’m not advocating for covering up problems, and I hope you’re not acting out a lie because in business that would be called fraud and in court, perjury.)
Stay with me here because the story gets more interesting and demonstrates how, if we just jump straight into action without looking deeper; to be willing to have hard conversations or admit guilt, our perception of circumstances may not be accurate. Decisions made impulsively may lead us astray, in an effort to cover up an issue or circumstance because of our fear, anger and/or guilt
The next morning the man hears his neighbors screaming while gathered around Fluffy’s cage. Trying to look innocent enough, he walks over to ask what happened.
Shocked beyond all belief, his neighbor bewilderedly replies, they really don’t know. Fluffy died in our daughter’s arms last night from tick bite fever, and we buried him in the backyard!
It turns out, the problem the man immediately saw and proceeded to solve wasn’t the real problem at all. Had he had the perspective to question the circumstances, the strength to address his neighbors and the resolve to make things right, his set of actions would have been completely different —and I’m sure more appropriate.
This story reminds us to take that extra step to be authentic. To dig deeper, to look harder, to have more conversations when things are difficult, not less. Maybe take a moment right now to reflect on a situation in your business or life —where you feel “sure” you have a problem you “know” or where there’s something in your way. Why is it a problem? Examine your perspective. Who can you talk to or where can you find more information that might enable you see the problem another way? How can you see different points of view to foster a better understanding of the whole picture?
If you’re not part of the #NoMatterWhat Community on Facebook yet, you should be. It’s specifically designed to support you in working through whatever is in your way. It’s a group of people committed to breakthroughs regardless of circumstances. And it’s the perfect place to share what you’re dealing with to get a fresh perspective to make sure you’re not the one proverbially “bringing the rabbit back to life”.
This kind of work isn’t easy. It takes work. It takes courage. It takes exploring the unknown. It’s those that embody these traits and move forward #NoMatterWhat that achieves breakthrough results. The easy way out usually isn’t the best way out. The question is, what path will you take? Will you dig deeper to reveal your own authenticity?
Being unafraid to bring all the light into a circumstance liberates us from the darkness of fear, guilt and anger and sets us free to be “more”. And the world is calling us to be more, to unlock our dreams and discover our human potential.
Contact Us at WeSpeak Global and follow us on Twitter
The articles, video and images embedded on these pages are from various speakers and talent.
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.
Hey there, are you a white person wondering what Things You Can Do As An Ally for Black people right now? A lot of my white friends have been asking, you’re not alone. I’ve received several questions from friends wanting to do something so I thought I’d compile these all on one place. This is […]
One of the attractions of Work-At-Home schedule is the vision of freedom it invokes — no time clock, no time sheets, and no one to account for how you spend your time. Yes, it is an attractive proposition, but like so many attractive propositions there is a heavy downside — you are likely wasting a […]
The relentless pace and uncertainty of business today is taking a serious toll on all of us. Mental Health Leadership Priority might strive to be purpose-driven, impactful and innovative, but they are often hijacked by constant crisis management and the pressure to give everyone a voice. As if that’s not enough, add in the exhaustion […]
Things to QUIT if you Ever hear that saying that says before you can grab hold of what you really want you’ve got to let go of what’s you’re currently holding on to so tightly and QUIT Starting Today? That’s what I want to talk about in this article. Those things that no longer serve […]
WIFU: What’s in it for you, to read this? If you are ‘time-poor’, and therefore don’t have time to read this article right now, then simply use the acronym: BOOST© to ask yourself five questions: B = Bed- Do you wake up refreshed? O = Oxygen- Do you get enough oxygen to your brain throughout […]
The most common question I am asked when I identify myself as a mountaineer is “Why take on a challenge?” From my education as a life coach, I’ve learnt that the neurology (the brain) doesn’t like the question “Why” very much – in fact the neurological reaction is to defend, justify or shut down. This […]
In today’s fast-paced, rapidly changing world, with such high expectations of #leaders, the challenges for leaders are high demanding and complex and HOW TO AVOID BURNOUT. Know the most effective leaders are the ones that prioritize #selfcare. HOW TO AVOID BURNOUT – VIDEO It is only when you take care of your emotional well-being, […]
Leadership Hack: How Sticky Notes Can Help Your Career Sticky notes have been my savior. And I don’t mean in a “don’t forget the milk” kind of way. True, sticky notes are great for grocery lists, but what I’m talking about here is how a few small squares helped me become a better leader, and […]
Our Mission
© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME
