How do You Eat An Elephant?

Q:  How do you eat an elephant?

A:  One bite at a time

This question is one I ask of someone facing what seems like an overwhelming or impossible task.  The answer invariably has a relaxing effect, letting the person open their mind to a solution comprised of many small but manageable steps.  It draws them in, instilling resolve and belief that yes – they can deal with that “elephant in the room.”

What elephant are you trying to confront:  starting a business?  expanding a business from solopreneur stage to “employer” stage?  re-energizing stagnant sales?  finding a new market for your product or service?  problems with employees?  There’s always some “elephant” that’s confronting us:  another mountain peak to climb, another river to cross.

You can do it.  But you must take on that challenge in a way you can manage.  Like learning a new riff on your guitar, slowly identify the basic elements (notes) and work out the sequence of steps (the melody) before slowly executing those steps (notes) in order.  Practice them first before you have to go on stage and put yourself on the line. 

Break down the big problem into a series of much smaller problems, so that you can solve the small ones, in sequence.  When you finish, you’ll find you’ve solved the big one.

Break down that elephant into a series of small bites. Mmm…not so tough, after all.

Author’s Note: in writing this piece, I tried to find the source of the saying, but couldn’t.  In searching, I stumbled across an interesting article on “elephant jokes” in Wikipedia: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_jokes.  Remember that old one from childhood days:  “Q:  Why is a bluebird blue?  A:  So you can tell it apart from an elephant.”

-- Steve Caccavo, Founder of Constructive Business Solutions™, draws on his years of entrepreneurial experience to help owners strengthen and grow their small and mid-size businesses. © 2010 by Constructive Business Solutions™, a division of Positive Employment Practices, Inc.