IT’S THE SNAIL, JOHN! Five Down-To-Earth Lessons About Life & Success At Work

JOSE DAGALA

Illustrations Cyrus Borromeo

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” – Dr. Seuss

My former student John has asked me this…

“May I ask how you discovered the right career for you and the path of happiness you so often walk today?”

IT’S THE SNAIL, JOHN!

My answer…

SNAIL FACT #1 Snails do not move fast, but they do move at a very steady pace.

And they do hibernate.

LESSON #1

LIKE THE SNAIL, TAKE LIFE SLOW AND REFLECT ALONG THE WAY.

“…enjoy your mornings instead of rushing off to work in a frenzy; taking time to enjoy whatever you are doing; taking a break to appreciate the outdoors; and actually focusing on whoever you’re talking to or spending time with, instead of always thinking about work tasks and e-mail or being connected to a Blackberry, iPhone, or laptop all the time.”

Leo Babauta

SNAIL FACT #2 Snails leave behind slime as they move. This slime is a powerful form of suction which

enables them to move upside down, around corners, and assume comical positions.

LESSON #2

LEAVE BEHIND A GOOD REPUTATION FOR OTHERS TO TALK ABOUT.

“Your reputation is in the hands of others. That's what the reputation is. You can't control that. The only thing you can control is your character.” Wayne Dyer

SNAIL FACT #3 Snails cannot hear, so they rely on their sense of touch to interact with each other. To

find food, they use their sense of smell.

LESSON #3

LIKE THE SNAIL, ATTRACT OPPORTUNITIES INTO YOUR LIFE.

“[I]f one wants to get a boat ride, one must be near the river.” Anchee Min,

SNAIL FACT #4 A snail takes strange routes as it moves. Instead of moving in a straight line, the snail

completes a circle before moving on its journey.

LESSON #4

LIKE THE SNAIL, TAKE A STRANGE ROUTE AS YOU MOVE.

“Stay foolish!” Steve Jobs

SNAIL FACT #5 A snail has both male and female reproductive organs; hence it is considered a

hermaphrodite. However, it cannot create offspring on its own. A snail must mate with another; then both mates will have the ability to lay eggs

LESSON #5

LIKE THE SNAIL, SEEK OTHERS TO SUCCEED.

“Networking is an important, and I would say necessary, part of gaining success. Don't be scared to introduce yourself and get your name out there.” http://www.grindandsucceed.com/2010/03/importance-of-networking.html

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JOSE DAGALA is an idea enthusiast. He loves to do three things – think, read and write. His thirst for new ideas, concepts and insights makes him a book lover and a passionate driver of change. His favorite authors are Malcolm Gladwell and Daniel Pink. He just recently founded GruppoSocial – a training & consultancy firm in the mining industry. When he’s not busy with serious works, he does amateur photography with his wife as his favorite subject. He obtained his Bachelors degree in Education major in Social Science from PNU and his Masters Degree in Development Studies from DLSU. He has also completed a short course on Social Marketing for Development Managers at AIM. He has seven broad years of experience in Stakeholders and Community Relations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR