Quite a lot, as it turns out.
Years ago, I wrote a blog about the business lessons we could learn from animals.
I recently found it again and had a bit of a laugh.
There were dogs teaching us determination, ants demonstrating teamwork, lions providing lessons in courage, pigs reminding us to have fun—and a frog encouraging us to listen before taking a leap.
And do you know what?
The thinking behind it still stacks up.
Business has changed enormously since I first wrote it, but people haven’t.
We still get overwhelmed.
We still hold onto things longer than we should.
We still need courage to make difficult decisions.
We still achieve more when we work together.
And sometimes we still need someone—or apparently something with four legs—to remind us of the basics.
So, in true Gernius style, let’s have a little fun.
🐸 1. The Frog: Listen Before You Leap
A frog doesn’t leap constantly.
It observes what’s happening around it before deciding when to move.
There’s a business lesson in that.
When something isn’t working, our instinct can be to immediately do something.
Change the marketing.
Hire someone.
Introduce another system.
Launch something new.
Drop the price.
But action without clarity can create more noise rather than progress.
Sometimes the most useful thing you can do is stop and listen.
Listen to your customers.
Listen to your team.
Listen to what’s happening in the numbers.
And listen to your own intuition.
Then decide what your next move needs to be.
You don’t always need to leap immediately. But when you do, know why you’re leaping.
🐕 2. The Dog: Keep Your Eye on What Matters
Have you ever tried distracting a dog that really wants something?
Good luck. 😂
There’s something to be said for that level of focus.
Business owners are surrounded by distractions. New opportunities, new ideas, social media, emails, other people’s opinions and the temptation to chase whatever looks exciting this week.
Having a clear vision gives you something to come back to.
Ask yourself:
Does this move me closer to what I’m trying to create—or is it simply another distraction?
Not every opportunity needs to become your opportunity.
🐜 3. The Ant: You Don’t Have to Carry Everything Yourself
This lesson from the original blog might be even more relevant today.
Ants work together.
Everyone contributes.
And somehow an enormous amount gets achieved by lots of tiny actions.
Business owners aren’t always quite as clever about that.
We can convince ourselves:
“It’s quicker if I just do it.”
And sometimes it probably is.
But keep doing that and eventually you’ve built a business where everything depends on you.
That’s not sustainable growth.
Build the team.
Use your trusted people.
Ask for support.
Create partnerships.
And allow other people to bring their strengths to the table.
You don’t have to be the person carrying every leaf back to the nest.
🦁 4. The Lion: Courage Doesn’t Mean Having No Fear
Running a business requires courage.
Not dramatic, roaring-from-the-mountaintop courage every day.
Sometimes business courage looks surprisingly ordinary.
Having the conversation you’ve been avoiding.
Putting your price up.
Saying no.
Changing direction.
Admitting something isn’t working.
Asking for help.
Backing yourself.
Trying something when you don’t know exactly how it will turn out.
Courage isn’t waiting until you feel completely confident.
Sometimes confidence comes because you were courageous enough to act.
🐈 5. The Cat: Know When to Stop
I had cats in the original blog demonstrating the importance of relaxation.
And frankly, cats remain extremely qualified in this area. 😂
Business owners can wear being busy like a badge of honour.
But being exhausted isn’t evidence that you’re succeeding.
Sometimes the most productive decision you can make is to stop.
Rest.
Think.
Walk away from the computer.
Spend time with the people you love.
Give your brain room to breathe.
You’ll often return seeing something you couldn’t see while you were buried in it.
Working S.M.A.R.T.er, not harder, includes knowing when not to work.
🐖 6. The Pig: Don’t Forget to Enjoy It
Yes, pigs made the cut again.
Because what’s the point of building a business if you never enjoy the experience of building it?
Celebrate the wins.
Laugh with your team.
Do something unexpected.
Enjoy your customers.
Notice the progress you’ve made rather than immediately racing towards the next target.
Success isn’t a destination you’re finally allowed to enjoy when everything is finished.
Business is part of your life.
You’re allowed to enjoy it while you’re creating it.
🐕 7. And Finally… Let It Go
I loved this idea in the original, so it’s staying.
Animals don’t seem particularly interested in replaying last Tuesday’s awkward conversation at 2am.
Humans, however, can be exceptionally talented at it.
Business doesn’t always go according to plan.
You’ll make decisions you later question.
You’ll lose opportunities.
People will disappoint you.
You’ll occasionally get things spectacularly wrong.
Learn from it.
Take responsibility where you need to.
Make changes.
And then give yourself permission to move forward.
Holding onto yesterday takes energy away from what you could create tomorrow.
So… What Would a Frog Know?
Maybe more than we give it credit for.
Listen.
Observe.
Be adaptable.
Know when to leap.
And when you do leap, commit to it.
That’s actually not bad business advice from a frog.
At Gernius, we believe extraordinary results don’t come from having every answer.
They come from being curious, asking the questions that uncover new possibilities, challenging your thinking and having the courage to take meaningful action.
And sometimes inspiration comes from unexpected places.
So next time you’re feeling stuck in your business, perhaps don’t immediately ask:
“What should I do?”
Try asking:
“What haven’t I noticed yet?”
You never know what might appear when you look at things from a different perspective.
Even a frog might teach you something. 🐸
