Are You the Chicken or the Pig?
Posted by: 247wealthcreation in Personal Development, tags: Absolute commitment, Are you the chicken or the pig, commitment, motivationAre You the Chicken Or the Pig?
Today’s post, ‘Are You the Chicken Or the Pig?’ is based on the fable The Chicken and the Pig. This is a classic story about commitment. I’m sure everyone would have read this at some time, but how many of us see ourselves in the story?
The Chicken and the Pig
There are quite a few versions of the story but the meaning never changes. Essentially, the chicken and the pig meet.
The chicken says to the pig; “Let’s open a restaurant together”. The pig says, “Sure. What do you want to call it?”. The chicken says, “How about ‘Ham and Eggs’?” The pig says, “No way. I’d be committed but you’d only ever be involved.”
So, are you the chicken or the pig? Are you totally committed or just involved? Is there something in your life you want to achieve but haven’t quite yet made it a priority?
Are you getting some results but not the ones you want? Maybe, it’s just a question of commitment.
So, Are You the Chicken Or the Pig?
We all want to be the pig, right? Being the pig implies absolute commitment. Absolute commitment to making our goals a priority in our life. Absolute commitment to doing everything necessary to achieve the success we want.
How can we be completely committed?
- Write down exactly what you want
- Write down exactly what you need to do in order to get what you want
- Do everything on your list
Being a Pig Sounds Easy
Absolute commitment is never easy but if we really want to achieve our goals we have to give it everything we’ve got. We can’t allow ourselves to make excuses for why we’re not getting the results we want.
I’m sure lots of us have perfectly valid reasons for why we’re not quite getting the results we want. Things like, I’m working long hours; my kids have the flu; the Winter Olympics is on TV. Whatever your reason is.
But, this is the chicken talking. We’re involved, because we’re doing some of the things we need to do to be successful. But, unless we get focused, be determined, remove all excuses and go after what we want, relentlessly; we will never be the pig.
Are You the Chicken Or the Pig?
So, which one are you? If you’re like me, you’re a chicken trying to be a pig. The excuses above are all mine. I’ve just changed some of the details to protect the identities of the family members involved.
I’m determined to become a pig and have the success that I want. If you’re in the same boat (chicken coop) as me; leave me a comment and let me know what you’re struggling with. Maybe we can motivate each other to do more.
I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s post on, ‘Are You the Chicken Or the Pig?’.
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Entries (RSS)
March 1st, 2010 at 5:20 pm
My mind is more often on the chicken side while my will is on the pig’s side. I have a goals which I’m currently working to achieve. In my everyday efforts I find my mind presenting some excuses to digress my focus but my will is stronger than my mind and so I stick to every activities related to my goal. It’s not easy, but I believe that success needs commitment and not wobbling.
March 1st, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Hi Walter,
I’m trying to strengthen my resolve and become the pig. It’s all about focus and sometimes I can get distracted by everyday events. I’m glad to hear you are able to so committed.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:34 am
I am a 100% chicken seem to have a lacking of desiree I don’t know why and can’t break out to total positivity, probably had too many past failures.
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:22 am
Hi Nick,
I think you’re being too hard on yourself. You would have had some success in the past because there is no way anyone is a total failure at everything.
Why don’t you try setting a small goal to help you get the feeling of success. Maybe something like reading a self improvement book for 10mins each day for 5 days. Or, there are plenty of YouTube videos from Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield etc. Make a goal to watch just one each day for 5 days.
If you work on your thoughts and feelings, you’ll naturally start making some positive changes. Just start small. Let me know how you go.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:51 am
Hi Jazz,
Great story – I’m definitely keen to become the pig, so I’m working towards that goal. As many gurus tell us, if you want to be successful, you need to associate with successful people, so I guess we need to find more pigs to hang around with in order to become the pig.
Colin
Colin Schedler´s last blog ..Inspirational People – Anthony Robbins
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:59 am
Hi Colin,
So true. I just might have to fly the coop and land squarely in the mud of the best pigpen I can find.
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:49 am
The thing I don’t like about this story is that the chicken is supplying a replenishble resource while the pig can only give so much and then it is all over. I am not sure where that takes the story. Like I said, it always makes me uncomfortable. Not sure I want to be so committed.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:18 am
Hi Ralph,
Good point. I guess for me being the pig does represent giving all you have to give. It’s about not having any regrets. It’s about going after whatever it is that you want and being able to say, I gave everything I had to give. Not having any regrets in that you could have done something more. Being the pig means you know you gave everything you could.
April 6th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Hi Jazz
Great article and you have hit the nail on the head. Love the analogy with the story.
If I have the passion and the goal is bigger and benefits outside of me, then I make it happen e.g. for the whole family. The passion keeps me motivated and the bigger picture goal if it benefits my whole family keeps me commited. Commitment is great though I do also like to be flexible to bend where life takes me. Haha, maybe then we could say a bit of both.
Thanks and I do like your writing style.
Cherie R
May 20th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Hi Jazz,
I’d like to be as committed as the pig, but I’m too chicken to go the whole hog.
Thanks for the motivational prod, though.
Regards
Jon
JonBell´s last blog ..A Sad Period
May 20th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Thanks for your interesting and well written post about the Chicken and the Pig.
I had not actually heard of this fable about the Chicken and the Pig but the message is present in life. Your post has stirred some thoughts on this topic, involvement versus commitment.
I believe that we all think that we are the Pig, but when life throws us challenges we revert to the Chicken, being involved, even on a deep level but the commitment is lacking and gone for the time being. True success comes with committment, application of ideas, organisation and hard work. It can be very challenging to find the balance and move forward in our level of commitment but the rewards are great and well worth the journey!!
Thanks again
Bev´s last blog ..The Groom – The Diplomat
May 20th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
I haven’t heard that chicken and the pig story before.
I find I have commitment conflicts. I am committed to having a healthy body. I am committed to being successful in my business no matter what. The two are not totally compatible. To achieve the level of success I want I need to do more. If I do too much my health declines. So I am having to look at values. What do I value more, health or success in business? Health of course. If I am healthy then I can do all sorts of business.
I find the biggy in commitment is relationships. Men, in particular, have difficulty understanding what commitment is and what it means to them. Men are more likely to be chickens, women pigs.
Wal Heinrich´s last blog ..The Secret Of Healing The Shadow Self And Tapping Into The Riches Of The Dark Side
May 20th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Hm. I’d rather lay an egg (although it sounds painful) than become ham.
Am I being too analytical, Jazz?
Sean Rasmussen´s last blog ..Mindset Mastery 194 – To Kill An Ambition
May 20th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
I also have trouble knowing if I am the Chicken or the Pig, having said that, I am totally committed to my success.
I want it so bad, that I have put myself out there and told everyone I will succeed, so that makes me the Pig right.
But there times I just feel like, yes I am involved, but just what am I doing and I flap my wings (struggle) not knowing what to do next, so get nowhere, then I am the Chicken.
Rita Pepper´s last blog ..SEO Training
May 20th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Hi Jazz,
I love the message in this article, though I don’t think I’ve heard the Chicken or the Pig Story before.
I’ve always had big dreams for myself and my family, though I thought that they would arrive one day. But as I’ve got older I’ve learnt, one day never comes to those who are not committed to actively seek their dreams. I’m so glad that I recognized this at a young age rather than 20 or 30 years down the track, as I have time on my side to enjoy it.
So in the last few years I feel I’ve moved closer to my dreams than I had previously, all because I changed the way I think, set some goals, began to educate myself and became more persistent with my effort. I realize I still have a way to go, but feel at ease that I’m on the right track.
Cade´s last blog ..Technical Analysis of Stock Trends #2 – Chart Overlays
May 20th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Hi Cherie,
I like how you’re flexible. I think it’s good to be able to adapt to whatever life throws at you. My family is also a huge driving force for me to stay committed to my goals. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them.
May 20th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Hi Jazz,
I’m the pig! I want to be the pig. Let me be the pig. Like Bev & Cade, I also hadn’t heard the story before – although I have heard it in a joke format. The last two or three years have seen me change my mindset and believe in myself – believing that I can be above normal… way above normal as I know I have a passion that can leave others in the dust. Connecting with like minded people such as yourself serves to strengthen this resolve even further. Thanks for all your help so far Jazz.
I’ve even taken the next two days off work to solely focus on my to do list.
David Moloney´s last blog ..Elance: Where to Find a Great Logo Designer
May 20th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Hi Jazz,
I think it’s easier to be the chicken and is probably why I can struggle with commitment by seeing something through to completion..It’s easy to just drift through life and take what is dished out along the way. Commitment on the other hand is I believe, a way to take charge of ones life and to steer it in the right direction..
Defining goals and having a mentor will help to become the pig. I hope I am on the right track here.
I did enjoy today’s post. More than anything it has given me the opportunity to think a little more about my future and has helped me to put my priorities in order..
May 21st, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Hi Jazz
Thanks for offering to listen to what I’m struggling with, but we might be here for a while! LOL! I think people can fail to commit because they don’t have the self-confidence that they will follow through. And this is where “commitment phobia” can come from, I reckon. We definitely live in a society where there’s a whole phenomena about this now. Where people see the drawback to commitment as being a lack of freedom, that’s an example of when negative framing can get in the way. Thanks for the blog post, Jazz.
May 21st, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Hi Jill,
You’re definitely not alone there. It happens to all of us at one time or another. I find the most effective thing for me is to have written goals and a plan of how I intend to achieve them. And to back that up with someone I am accountable to for what I have achieved.
I find having a mentor invaluable. It really helps to have someone whose been where I want to go.
May 21st, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Hi Dave,
Yes, you can be the pig. In fact I think you already are. I think your blog is fantastic. You provide a ton of great information for anyone with a business or looking to start a business. I always learn a lot whenever I drop by.
It’s great to hear that you are embracing a successful mindset and believing in yourself. I’ve known you for a little while now and everything I see you do is always of a very high quality. I have no doubt that you will succeed at anything you set your mind to.
May 21st, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Hi Cade,
I think it’s great that you have always had big dreams. I think the bigger your dreams the greater the rewards. I think success comes when you know what you want, write it down, make plans, set goals and are willing to work hard for it. You have to be committed to your dream and be willing to persist for as long as it takes for you to realize your dream.
I also agree that you’re on the right track. I see you do some high quality work and I think success will be yours. Dream on, Cade!
May 23rd, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Hi Bev,
I know what you mean. It’s easy to be committed to your goals when everything is going right. It’s much harder to stay the course when times are tough. But, I think that commitment to your goals and persistence is the key to success.
Still, I think that most of us are actually a blend of the chicken and the pig and success is about finding the balance between the two.
May 23rd, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Hi Rita,
I think you’re the pig because I see you as being deeply committed to achieving your goals. You work very hard and are improving all the time. I think it’s only a matter of time before you see the results of all your hard work.
Don’t worry about the times when you’re struggling as we all go through that. Just ask for help and keep putting one foot in front of the other. I think you’re doing great!
May 23rd, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Hi Wal,
I think men are portrayed in the media as having issues with commitment but it’s not necessarily that way in real life. I think if a man really loves a woman he has no problem being committed to her. I think the problems come when women try to get commitment from the wrong man. (Sorry ladies.)
Also, I understand what you mean by having commitment conflicts. I think you just have to decide what is most important for you. I think having a healthy body is the most important thing because without that; you really can’t function effectively.
I still think you can have a healthy body and a successful business. It will just take you longer to succeed in business because your primary focus is on your health and that’s okay.
May 23rd, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Hi Jon,
That’s very clever. I love it!
May 23rd, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Hi Lina,
I don’t mind listening to what you’re struggling with as it would make a change from listening to my own issues.
I agree with you though, that lack of self-confidence is a huge barrier to success. I think you have to believe that you can be successful first before success actually comes to you. Even if you don’t tell anyone; you still need that self-confidence inside you.
Also, I’ve always seen commitment as a good thing. I’ve never seen it as a loss of freedom but I have friends that do. I find it easy to be committed to things that are important to me. I guess it depends on what you focus on.