Love Being A Donkey...For Now

Growing up, my parents often shared stories of their lives on an island off Croatia’s Adriatic coast. There, owning a donkey was a lifeline for many families. These hardy creatures were essential for transporting supplies and hauling in the olive harvest.

As a kid, I spent summer visits to the island, a place so different from my hockey-filled winters in Toronto. My sister and I were always fascinated by the donkeys. We’d watch them munch on hay, talk to them, even pet them, feeling this strange kinship with the quiet, stoic animals.

My uncle had a donkey that accompanied him on his daily trek up the hill. Sometimes, it would stop in its tracks, refusing to move no matter what my uncle did. We, as kids, found this amusing – a grown man being outwitted by a donkey that just wouldn't budge. But as the years passed, farming on the island dwindled, and so did the donkeys. My uncle’s donkey was one of the last in the village. When it passed away, it hit him hard.

I’ve learned, since then, that donkeys have different ‘danger’ reactions. While it is thinking about the best response to a perceived or real threat, it will freeze. What is often labeled as stubbornness is a strong sense of self-preservation, combining caution with sensitivity: very much how humans act, if we’re honest with ourselves.

We are all like donkeys (me included) when we start a business for the first time. We tend to get stuck in one way of thinking. I’ve lost count of how many times I hear someone tell me what they plan on doing with their business based on what someone told them eight months ago, with little evidence to back it up. As Adam Grant puts it, “Once we hear a story and accept it as true, we rarely bother to question it.” We stick to ideas that make us feel comfortable rather than those that challenge us.

We place too much pressure on ourselves in having to know what we should do next. You’re not supposed to know everything right away. Ask yourself: what am I creating now? Where am I on this path? Instead of rushing for easy answers, give yourself time to evolve. It’s like working a new muscle that needs regular training. The more you practice, the stronger you get.

Of course, you’ll still have to make decisions. But most decisions are rooted in emotion. “Don’t take it personally” is advice often given to new entrepreneurs, but let’s face it, we all take things personally. We’re emotional beings, and that’s part of the journey. The key is to not let those emotions completely take over.

Starting a business is as much about gut feelings as it is about reason. It takes time to figure it all out – and it’s rarely easy. Ultimately, it will feel transformative, like learning a whole new game; like playing hockey! You have so much to offer the world, and the world has so much to teach you. Like a donkey, pause when you need to, but keep moving forward.