The Second Mouse

“Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought.”

— Henri Bergson

Ever since I was a boy I remember my parents and grandparents telling me, “The early bird gets the worm”. It wasn't until I was in college that I heard the second part of that saying. An alternate version of this statement and one that I am often reminded of states, “It may be true that the early bird gets the worm, but it is also just as well that the second mouse gets the cheese”.

When I was a boy, and still sometimes today, my parents would often scold me for “thinking too much” and not doing enough (or as often was the case, not doing whatever chore they had asked on their set time frame . Many times, it wasn't that I wasn't moved to action or wanting and willing to complete the task, but rather than just “check the box” that the task was completed and done, I wanted to do it right, I wanted to do it better, and I wanted there to be a significant purpose for doing said task. - It was often hard for me to find a meaningful purpose to folding my clothes and cleaning my room, but as I soon found out, losing my driving privileges was a great motivator!

There is a lot to be said for being quick to action. You certainly want to be reactive to issues as they arise and sometimes it is best to go ahead and just get done those chores that we don’t want to do, such as the laundry and housework.  But, there is also a time when being quick to action just might put you in a worse situation. I am reminded of a story I once heard of a Fox and a Goat.

“One day a fox fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape.  A goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and seeing the fox, inquired if the water was good.  Concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, the fox indulged in a lavish praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging him to descend.  The goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the fox informed him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme for their common escape.  ‘If,’ said he, ‘you will place your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards.’  The goat readily assented and the fox leaped upon his back.  Steadying himself with the goat's horns, he safely reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he could.  When the goat chastised him for breaking his promise, he turned around and cried out, ‘you foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape.’”

Sometimes it is better to think before we act. Sometimes it is better to act before we think too much. The difficult part is knowing when is the right time to take an extra moment and plot your exit strategy before you begin.

I hope that as you begin your new year you have had some time over the holiday to think through the past year. What were those times you might have reacted to quickly? What were those times that you weren't quick enough to action? Can you learn from the actions of your past to improve your future?

As we lead into the New Year with our minds clear and our goals set, let’s take time to pause for half a second before we begin to make sure our actions are oriented to meaningful outcomes, but let’s never be led to not take action because we were trying to over think the solution.

I know that 2014 is going to be a great year for Jones County and I know it will be the result of our mindful and driven community leaders. I hope you are a part of it because I know that if you are, our community will be so much better because you are. Happy New Year everyone!

* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, January 12, 2014 issue
of The Chronicle's"Planting Seeds" column.