I'm going to ask you a question that I know you probably can't answer now, but what I want you to do is figure out which of the two descriptions best fit you and then answer the question.

The question is...are you a tiger or a sheep?

First, let's talk about tigers. What are tigers? Tigers are the people that love challenges. They are the people that enjoy stepping out of their comfort zones to take risks, even though the chance of failure is great. Tigers are the people that don't give up on themselves and believe that there's always a chance to win as long as they're in the game. Tigers are strong, courageous, and don't avoid conflicts. Tigers speak with confidence with everything they do, even when they're uncertain. Tigers are confident in their abilities to adapt to their situations and overcome any obstacles placed in front of them. Tigers get scared while taking risks, but they're more likely to feel the fear and still go for it. Tigers like to be in the company of other tigers because they hate weakness of any form. A tiger views anyone afraid to take risks and challenges unworthy of their time and attention.

Next, let's talk about sheep. What are sheep? Sheep are the EXACT opposite of tigers. Sheep are the people that are afraid of challenges and hate stepping out of their comfort zones. Sheep may take some risk, but their tentative nature prevents them from taking any risk that forces them to leave the safety of their comfort zone. Sheep like to feel safe within their comfort zones by not taking any risks or risk where success is not practically guaranteed. Sheep are their own worst enemies and beat up on themselves constantly. Sheep act weak, cowardly, and flee from anything that might closely resemble a conflict. If sheep feel the fear while taking risks, they'll get scare and run like hell! Sheep lack self-confidence and avoid situations where uncertainty and risk are high. Sheep like to hang out with other sheep because there's no pressure on them to step out of the comfort zone. They prefer to enjoy the safety and unchallenging environment that surrounds the sheep.

Each one of us has tiger and sheep qualities inside us. What we need to determine is which trait will be more dominant in our lives. After you've discovered which group you belong, you need to determine if that's where you want to be. Sheep aren't bad people, they just don't believe in themselves. In fact, there are times when being conservative is a valuable asset. The same rule applies to tigers. There are times when some challenges and risks need to be seriously evaluated before taken or avoided completely. The key is finding out how they fit in your lives and where they compliment each other to finding a balance that won't hinder your personal growth.

So, I ask you the question again, are you a tiger (growl!)...or a sheep (baa!)? Something to think about...

(c) 2007 Paul M. Greenhill