Terrific Thursday Tails: Mongoose

May 25, 2016 2 Min Read
Mongoose
Source:Jonathan Jordan | Flickr

How do you picture bravery? Something you see in your idol? Bungee jumping? You finally talking to your crush? No matter what bravery means to each one of us, we know it’s not easy to be brave.

Perhaps there are things we can learn from mongooses (yes, that’s the plural for mongoose, so it’s not ‘mongeese’) as they are naturally brave creatures. Think Rikki-tikki-tavi, Rudyard Kipling’s fictional mongoose character included in The Jungle Book.

Yes, they maybe small in size but don’t let them fool you. They are one of the very few mammals that are brave enough to put up fights with venomous snakes such as king cobras.

Bonus: Watch how a mongoose faces off with a cobra.


Mongooses are primarily found in South Africa while some are found in parts of southern Asia and the Iberian Peninsula.

Some species of mongoose live in a cooperative society where each member of the pack plays an important role. Each of them has a specific duty, some are hunters while some stay behind and 'baby sit'. In this order, older members and youngsters are often nurtured by the entire pack, with kills being brought back to the home front and freely shared.

Leadership lesson

Nelson Mandela once said:

“I learnt that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who doesn’t feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”


Leaders are brave even when they are afraid. They have their fears but they do not let it dictate their life, and that is what makes them different.

Leaders develop other people. They bring out the best in people by helping them see their full potential and helping them achieve their goals. They understand the importance of helping and serving others regardless of age and gender because everyone is important for they all contribute to society one way or another.

Share This

Alt
John is a former intern at Leaderonomics. He believes anyone can be leaders if they want to because he believes it only requires simple steps for a drastic change.

You May Also Like

leadership presence

Your Presence Matters

By Michelle Gibbings. Explore how being truly engaged transforms interactions. Learn actionable strategies to cultivate this invaluable skill in a distracted digital age for professional success.

Oct 30, 2023 6 Min Read

Alt

Maximizing Productivity for Success: Jordan Peterson's Insights on Time Management | Rethink Your Approach

Jordan Peterson shares how we all need to rethink the value of productivity and success and how time-wasting plays a key role in that. He shares that wasted time equates to wasted income as Time = Money. Listen to his enlightening talk below on how you too can procrastinate less and use your time wisely to make more money for yourself and be rich. Discipline is essential for personal growth and success, and it can be developed through consistent effort and a clear vision for the future.

Jan 12, 2024 8 Min Video

Be a Leader's Digest Reader