Buridan’s Donkey

Are you trying to pursue many different directions at once?

In his brilliant book, Hell Yeah or No, Derek Siver’s describes a story about a donkey who can’t make his mind up. You may have heard this one before. Always worth a re-read.

Buridan’s donkey is standing halfway between a pile of hay and a bucket of water. It keeps looking left and right, trying to decide between hay and water. Unable to decide, it eventually dies of hunger and thirst.

A donkey can’t think of the future. If he could, he’d clearly realise that he could first drink the water, then go eat the hay.

Don’t be the donkey. You can do everything you want to do. You just need foresight and patience.

Amen.