Great Business Advice -- Fly Eagle Fly
Fly Eagle Fly is an African Tale by Christopher Gregorowski, illustrated by Niki Daly. Originally based on a folktale shared by West African missionary Dr. James Aggrey, this story has transcended its origins as a bedtime read for kids. But it's also inspired countless motivational speeches, self-help books, and even leadership seminars aimed at adult entrepreneurs. So, whether you're a startup founder in your 20s or a seasoned executive, a newbie in business or a long-time pro just needing to hear a few pick-me-up words, hopefully the words that follow will be of help.
Let's start with a quick recap of the book, which was first published in 1982 and remains a staple in children's literature for its colorful illustrations and profound message. One stormy night, a farmer ventures out to find his lost calf and instead discovers a baby eagle that's been blown from its nest. Taking pity on the helpless creature, he brings it home and raises it alongside his chickens. The eaglet grows up in the barnyard, pecking at the ground, clucking, and behaving just like the fowl around it. It never learns to fly because it doesn't know it's an eagle; it's convinced it's a chicken.
Years pass, and the farmer's friend visits. Spotting the majestic bird acting like poultry, the friend is astonished. "That's no chicken; that's an eagle!" he said. Determined to help, he urges the farmer to set the eagle free to fulfill its destiny. They attempt to teach it to fly first from the ground, then from a fence, but each time the eagle flops back down, content with its chicken-like existence. Finally, the friend takes the eagle to a mountaintop at dawn. As the sun rises, painting the sky in golden hues, the eagle feels a stirring within. It spreads its wings, catches the wind, and soars into the heavens, never to return to the barnyard.
This simple narrative packs a punch. It's not just about birds; it's a metaphor for self-discovery, breaking free from limitations, and embracing one's true nature. Variations of this "eagle raised as a chicken" story appear in motivational content, often attributed to spiritual teacher Anthony de Mello or used in African independence movements to inspire education and empowerment. Similar themes echo in other books, like Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull, where a bird defies flock norms to pursue excellence, or Spencer Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese?, which encourages adapting to change rather than staying stuck in old habits. I, too, have personally used the Eagle metaphor in writings and speeches over the years.
No, Fly Eagle Fly isn't just a children's book; it's a blueprint for entrepreneurial success.
Now, why does this simple story resonate with business owners of all types? Many business owners start with grand visions but get bogged down by daily routines, market pressures, or self-doubt. They "peck at the ground" in survival mode instead of soaring toward innovation and growth. This fable has been a staple in motivational speeches for precisely this reason; it's a call to action for leaders to rise above mediocrity.
Eagles build their nests at the highest points available and hunt from elevated positions. They don't compete at ground level with other predators. For businesspeople, this translates to finding your unique vantage point in the industry. Don't try to outcompete everyone in a crowded space; rise above it. Find the niche, style, or platform where you can survey the landscape and strike with precision. The best people don't just participate in their industry; they position themselves above the noise where they can see opportunities others miss.
Eagles have the most powerful eyesight in the animal kingdom, seeing four to eight times farther than humans with remarkable clarity. They can spot a rabbit from two miles away. Businesspeople need this same level of focused vision, both literally and metaphorically. Know exactly what you're aiming for in your career. Don't get distracted by every trend or opportunity that passes by. Develop the ability to spot your specific target (your audience, your message, your breakthrough moment) even when it's distant, and keep your eyes locked on it.
Eagles don't chase everything that moves. They observe, wait, and strike with devastating precision when the moment is right. They succeed on nearly every hunt because they're patient and strategic. Too many folks exhaust themselves chasing every opportunity, every audition, every trend. Eagles teach us to be selective, to conserve energy, and to commit fully only when the conditions are optimal. One well-executed project often matters more than ten mediocre attempts.
Eagles are masters of using thermal currents to soar for hours with minimal energy expenditure. They work with natural forces rather than fighting against them. For business owners, this means recognizing cultural currents, industry trends, and audience appetites, then using them to lift your career rather than exhausting yourself fighting upstream. This isn't about selling out; it's about intelligent strategy. Find where your authentic expression aligns with existing momentum.
One of the most remarkable eagle behaviors: they're the only birds that fly directly into storms. While other birds flee or hide, eagles use storm winds to rise above the turbulence. Industry challenges, public criticism, and career setbacks, these are inevitable storms. A businessperson who learns from eagles doesn't avoid or crumble under pressure but uses that adversity to ascend to new heights. Many breakthrough performances and creative works emerge from artists who flew into their storms rather than away from them.
Eagles go through a painful molting process where they lose feathers, their beak becomes brittle, and they must retreat and essentially rebuild themselves. This can take months. Businesses similarly need periods of renewal, times when they step back from public view, shed old habits or personas, and emerge transformed. A businessperson's industry demands constant output, but eagles teach that strategic withdrawal for regeneration isn't weakness; it's how you maintain excellence over a lifetime.
Eagle parents don't coddle their young. They literally push eaglets out of the nest to force them to fly, catching them if they fail and trying again. They're demanding teachers who create capable, independent offspring. Successful businesses should adopt this mentorship approach, pushing emerging talent, setting high standards, but providing a safety net when needed. Your legacy isn't just your work; it's who you help develop.
Eagles fiercely defend their territory, not out of paranoia but to protect their resources and ensure their continued dominance. Businesses must similarly protect their brand, their creative vision, and their boundaries. This doesn't mean being difficult or isolated, but it does mean knowing what's yours to defend and having the courage to protect it from those who would dilute or exploit it.
Different eagle species have adapted to drastically different environments, from coastal areas to mountains to deserts. Those that couldn't adapt to changing conditions went extinct. The business landscape is constantly evolving with new technologies, platforms, and audience expectations. Eagles teach that adaptation isn't optional for long-term survival. But notice: they adapt while remaining eagles, not by trying to become different birds entirely.
My Closing Thoughts:
For years, that eagle did exactly what the chickens did. It pecked at the dirt for grain. It clucked. It kept its head down. Most importantly, it believed it was a chicken.
How many of you here today are currently 'pecking at the dirt' because that’s what everyone else in your industry is doing? How many have high-performance potential but have been conditioned by a 'coop' mindset, playing it safe, following the flock, and fearing the fence?
In the story, a friend visits the farmer and insists, 'This bird is an eagle. It has the heart of an eagle.' He tries to make it fly from the roof of the house, but the eagle looks down, sees the chickens eating, and jumps back down to the dirt. In business, we do this all the time. We have a big idea, a 'sky' idea, but we look down at our competitors, our past failures, or we look at our comfortable salaries, and we jump back down. The ground is safe. The sky is uncertain.
Finally, the friend takes the eagle to the top of a mountain. He doesn’t just tell the eagle to fly; he turns its head toward the rising sun. When the eagle saw the sun, something shifted. It didn't just see the dirt anymore; it saw the light. It felt the wind. It stretched its wings and, with a screech, it soared. It never returned to the coop
To build a business that changes lives, you cannot look at the feet of the person in front of you. You have to look at the 'sun', your ultimate vision, your 'Why.' When your vision is bigger than your environment, your wings will naturally find the wind.
My challenge to you today is this: Audit your coop. Are you surrounding yourself with chickens who tell you the sky is too dangerous? Or are you seeking out the 'mountaintops, the mentors and environments that force you to realize your own strength? You were not meant to scratch out a living in the dirt. You were meant to navigate the storms. You belong to the sky.
Thanks for reading, and now you know why the words ‘Fly Eagle Fly’ is more than just a cute saying.
Tom Boleware
.jpg)
Comments
Post a Comment