This is another concept from Good to Great. Here’s a quote from the book:
“Are you a hedgehog or a fox?
In his famous essay “The Hedgehog and the Fox,” Isaiah Berlin divided the world into hedgehogs and foxes, based upon an ancient Greek parable: “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.” The fox is cunning in nature, able to devise a myriad of complex strategies for sneak attacks upon the hedgehog. Day in and day out, the fox circles around the hedgehog’s den, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. Fast, sleek, beautiful, fleet of foot, and crafty - the fox looks like the sure winner. The hedgehog, on the other hand, is a dowdier creature, looking like a genetic mix-up between a porcupine and a small armadillo. He waddles along, going about his simple day, searching for lunch and taking care of his home.
The fox waits in cunning silence at the juncture in the trail. The hedgehog, minding his own business, wanders right into the path of the fox. “Aha, I’ve got you know!” thinks the fox. He leaps out, bounding across the ground, lightning fast. The little hedgehog, sensing danger, looks up and thinks. “Here we go again. Will he ever learn?” Rolling up into a perfect little ball, the hedgehog becomes a sphere of sharp spikes, pointing outward in all directions. The fox, bounding toward his prey, sees the hedgehog defense and calls off the attack. Each day, some version of this battle between the hedgehog and the fox takes place, and despite the greater cunning of the fox, the hedgehog always wins.”
So are you a hedgehog or a fox?
To put it in terms of making money online, the hedgehog has a specific goal and a plan to get there. The hedgehog sticks to the plan with discipline and focus and is not distracted by everything going on around him. On the other hand, the fox has no specific goal or plan. The fox spends his time chasing every get-rich-quick scheme and new tool that comes along and they are endless. The fox buys into the hype of every new tool and moneymaking plan that comes out thinking that will be the answer. The fox probably doesn’t even use the tools or implement the plans because before he can use them, the next great tool comes out and he shifts focus. Meanwhile, the hedgehog evaluates the tools and if it make sense and fits into his plan, he will buy and use it. Otherwise he will ignore it.
Foxes and hedgehogs are both smart and ambitious. The difference is that the hedgehog is able to evaluate the situation and create a specific goal and develop a simple plan to achieve the goal. The hedgehog has the discipline to focus on executing the plan without being distracted by outside influences. The fox has no goal, no plan, no focus, and no discipline. And the hedgehog always wins.
When would now be a good time to put a specific goal in writing, develop a simple plan to achieve that goal, and move forward with the focus and discipline required to execute the plan until the goal is achieved?
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