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Be a hedgehog
Maintaining a singular focus can drive your business forward with clear motivation and intent. Learn the ways of the hedgehog in this video.
Article
Estimated time: 2m
Note: This video uses brightly colored animated illustrations. Upbeat background music plays.
On screen: This video opens in a green field, where a small tan hedgehog and red-brown fox face one another cautiously. The fox's tail waves upward and downward.
Note: An unseen announcer provides narration.
Announcer: "There's an ancient saying: the fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing."
On screen: Be a Hedgehog.
On screen: 'A small business owner leans up against her new white food truck. She holds a tablet computer. On the side of the truck is a picture of a hedgehog and cursive text reading: "Hedgies." The cursive text is followed by a question mark.'
Announcer: When building a business, it pays to be a hedgehog. In other words, focus on one thing you're passionate about and use it to drive your business.
Announcer: Ideas
On screen: 'The tablet computer displays a list, labeled "Ideas." The list consists of five numbered clickable buttons. Thought balloons illustrate the business owner's different ideas which include: steak, sushi, tacos, spaghetti and meatballs, and cake.'
Announcer: Don't try to be all things to all people.
On screen: The business owner taps a button numbered "three." Next, the thought balloon containing tacos is highlighted.
Announcer: Embrace that one thing you do best and devote all your energies and resources to it.
On screen: The business owner serves tacos from her truck, now painted yellow with a large decorative taco on its top. Three customers stand in line. The name "Hedgie's Tacos" is painted on the side of the truck, next to a big picture of a hedgehog.
Announcer: That's the most surefire way to outfox the competition.
On screen: A hedgehog walks across a white background.
On screen: Chase for Business (registered trademark.)
Logo: The Chase octagon symbol.
Collins has another concept that's useful for entrepreneurs. It comes from an ancient saying: "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing."
In other words, put your energy behind one deep passion that you're exceptionally good at and use that to drive the economic engine of your business. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, the hedgehog seizes on a clarifying advantage, knowing that is the path to its greatest potential.
Is the fox more ambitious? Maybe. But the hedgehog is undeterred by distractions.
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