Imagine if the mighty tiger thought he only had the power of a house cat.
What if the only feedback the tiger received about his abilities came from the perspective of the house cat?
They’re both cats, sure — they have claws, similar instincts, and share ancestors. But the scope of what the tiger is capable of is worlds ahead of what the common cat can do.
If the tiger only sees himself through the lens of a cat, there’s a lot of talent, strength, and power left on the table — unclaimed.
Environment and Influence
If a tiger from the wild listens to a tiger born in a zoo, the conversation changes.
The zoo-born tiger, raised in captivity, knows comfort, not challenge. Someone provides for them — their nature to hunt, fight, or survive is dormant.
Freedom, for the wild animal, means control of destiny.
Freedom, for the captive animal, means comfort in dependency.
The same holds true for people. Too often, we allow the limits of those around us to become our own.
If you surround yourself with people who think small, you’ll eventually think small too.
Like the saying goes, “Your network determines your net worth.”
If your circle is made up of people doing well, you’ll rise with them.
But if you stay around people with no direction, no discipline, and no drive — don’t be surprised if you end up lost with them.
Learning to Identify Sources
This lesson starts early — even in academia.
Not every source of information is valid.
Peer-reviewed sources? Reliable.
Random social media posts? Maybe not.
Opinions can be entertaining, but they’re not always actionable.
And sometimes, the loudest voices are just echoes of confusion.
Credentials matter — not because they make someone better, but because they represent earned credibility.
Experience matters too — ten years of doing something consistently means something.
Still, the most powerful voices are those with both knowledge and lived experience.
A veteran speaks about the military differently than a poli-sci major ever could.
A published author sees storytelling differently than an English professor.
An NBA player, a D1 coach, and a high school trainer may all love basketball — but each brings a unique lens of truth.
Knowing Yourself
But in the end, none of it matters if you’re not clear on who you are.
The tiger has to know he’s a tiger.
Nobody can tell you what’s already written inside of you.
Identity isn’t external — it’s internal clarity.
Everything else is secondary.
Unless, of course, you choose to be a follower.
