Life and business are full of challenges. Sometimes they come out of nowhere, and other times you can see them building on the horizon. The question is not whether adversity will show up—it always does. The real question is, how will you respond?
Let me share a story that shifted my perspective and might just shift yours.
The Buffalo and the Cow
Out in the open plains of Colorado and Montana, storms often roll in fast from the west. The animals that live on those plains have learned to respond in very different ways.
When a storm approaches, cows sense it coming. Instinctively, they start running east, away from the storm. The problem is, the storm is faster than they are. So, as the cows run, the storm catches up. They end up stuck in it longer, tired, stressed, and overwhelmed.
Buffalos, on the other hand, do something very different. When the storm rolls over the mountains and into the valley, the buffalo turn to face it. And they run directly into it.
They charge the storm head-on.
As a result, they spend less time in the storm. They move through the adversity more quickly, more powerfully, and with greater clarity.
A Lesson for Leaders
The moment I heard this, I thought, what an incredible lesson for leadership and life.
Every business, every leader, every person is going to face storms. You cannot avoid them. Whether it is financial pressure, personal setbacks, team conflict, or market shifts, adversity is part of the journey.
The choice you have is simple: will you be the cow or the buffalo?
Will you try to outrun the problem, only to find yourself stuck in it longer? Or will you face it head-on, move through it with strength, and get to the other side faster?
Run Toward the Storm
Great leaders do not avoid problems. They do not run away. They recognize that storms are inevitable, and instead of reacting in fear, they respond with courage.
They turn their head, face the wind, and run straight into what others avoid.
And here is the thing. The storm always passes. Eventually the sky clears. The sun comes out. The landscape settles. The person you become in the middle of that storm is stronger, braver, and more prepared for whatever comes next.
Put a buffalo next to a cow. One clearly looks built for the battle. So should your leadership.
Final Thoughts
Whatever storm you are facing today—lean in.
Face it. Move through it. Grow because of it.
Lead like a buffalo. Not like a cow.
COACH MICHAEL DILL is an Award-Winning Certified Business Coach, global speaker, and published author. He is a proud ActionCOACH Franchise Partner as well as the President of Power & Ice Wealth Creation—a strategic leadership company that works with business owners, leaders, teams, and entrepreneurs to both develop a systematized and structured organization while accelerating their mindset, efficiencies, and effectiveness to grow both personally and professionally to achieve extraordinary results. He brings more than 40 years of business and entrepreneurial experience in his leadership, team training, and mentoring practice. BusinessCoachMichaelDill.com