In watching a video by Dave Ramsey the other day, he mentioned a concept that he calls “Gazelle Intensity” in reference to getting things done that seem impossible. He created this concept from a Bible passage and was talking about getting out of debt. The illustration from nature is quite powerful and can apply to anything.
In the African savanna, the Cheetah is the biggest threat to the life of a gazelle. It is the fastest land mammal and it is a predator with it’s eye on gazelle filets for lunch. When a cheetah is spotted, gazelles run as fast as they can darting around in different directions in an attempt to escape. They are literally running for their lives. And, as Dave Ramsey points out, the cheetahs are running for their lunch. The motivation is key here.
Dave reported that although the cheetah is the fastest land mammal alive, it only catches the gazelle 1 out of every 19 times. What?! The gazelle is relentless in it’s fleeing and is doing everything in it’s power to outrun, outsmart, and outdart the predator. And many times, it actually works.
So, what do you want in your life? Who do you want to be? For the rest of the year, if you approached your vision, goals, and decisions with Gazelle Intensity, what could you accomplish? Do you really want it? The gazelle really wants to not die and many times, it pays off. This is your one chance, your one life to live.
Here are a few tips that can help with your Gazelle Intensity:
- Take some time to sit down and really think about how you want to feel in your body, mind, and life. Then, write it down.
- Find an accountability partner or a tribe of other people who are also working toward similar goals with Gazelle Intensity.
- Post your goals so that you can see them and check in with them, revising as needed along the way.
- Celebrate small victories as you go. When something feels good, we naturally want to do it again. Notice how you feel as you begin to make changes and congratulate yourself for following through.
- Take it in small, baby steps. There is no need to try to change everything at once. Make it as small and as simple as you can so that you are the most likely to follow through.
- Don’t give up. All baby steps toward your goal is progress. The gazelle doesn’t give up because if so, it knows it’s all over for good. Rather than only looking at how far you still want to go, remember to look back and notice how far you have come.
So, who do you want to be by the end of this year? What are you working toward with Gazelle Intensity? It IS possible if you want it enough to pour all of your available resources toward making it happen.
If you need an accountability partner, reach out.
I will be running right next to you.
Chat again soon,
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