What Sloths and Dolphins Can Teach Us About Reinvention
Ever feel like you’re barely keeping up, running on empty while life keeps throwing more your way? Trust me, even dolphins can relate. They’re darting through the water, coming up for air every 10 minutes, trying to keep up with it all. Now, on the flip side, you’ve got sloths — relaxed, hanging out in the trees, holding their breath for up to 40 minutes, wondering why everyone’s in such a rush. Lekker, right?
But here’s the thing: both the sloth and the dolphin know exactly when to move and when to chill. That’s where the magic happens. This is where we, as humans trying to navigate the hustle, can take a page from their book. Welcome to the world of reinvention, the natural cycle that helps us adapt and thrive in whatever environment we find ourselves — whether it’s the busy streets of Jozi or the laid-back vibe of Cape Town.
Sloths: The Power of Taking It Slow
Sloths are not lazy. They’re strategic. These guys have mastered the art of survival by slowing things down. They don’t rush. By reducing their heart rate, they can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes, making sure they use as little energy as possible. They move so slowly that predators hardly even notice they’re there. That’s an epic life hack, right?
Sloths teach us that sometimes the best way to move forward is by slowing down. Imagine applying this to your life or business. What if you didn’t always have to chase the next deadline at breakneck speed? What if, like a sloth, you took the time to reassess, conserve your energy and only act when it really matters?
Dolphins: The Hustlers of the Ocean
Now, dolphins are the complete opposite. These guys are always on the move — hunting, socialising, playing. They’ve got loads of energy, but even dolphins need to come up for air. Every 10 minutes, they take a breather because no matter how strong you are, everyone needs a break.
Dolphins remind us that life isn’t a sprint, it’s more like a series of waves. You’ve got your busy times and your quiet times. Even when you’re pushing forward hard, you still need to make space to breathe. It’s the rhythm of life — knowing when to push forward and when to pause and reflect. We’re always talking about balancing work and family, social life and self-care, this lesson from dolphins makes a lot of sense.
The Ideal Time to Reinvent: The Left Side of the S-Curve
This is where the art and biology of reinvention comes in. Whether you’re a leader guiding a team or a solopreneur grafting on your own, it’s crucial to know when to start the process. Imagine your journey as an S-curve — starting slow, gaining momentum, reaching a peak and then eventually leveling off. Now, here’s the kicker: the best time to begin reinvention isn’t when things have plateaued or are in decline, but right there on the left side, during the growth phase.
Why, you ask? Well, when you’re in that growth phase, everything is still moving upward. You’ve got momentum on your side and in business or life, momentum is a powerful thing. It’s like trying to push a shopping trolley that’s already rolling — so much easier than starting from a dead stop.
During this period, you also have more resources at your disposal. Whether it’s extra energy, time or money, growth brings abundance. Waiting until you’re at a standstill or worse — on the decline — means you’re trying to reinvent with fewer resources and more pressure. We’ve all seen it, haven’t we? A business waits too long to reinvent or innovate (if they choose the latter) and suddenly, they’re playing catch-up, scrambling to survive. By starting early, while the system’s still healthy, you’re in a far better position to adapt and thrive.
The conditions during this growth phase are also more supportive. The market is still in your favour, your team’s morale is high and your audience is engaged. You have room to test-and-learn aka experiment without the fear of losing your footing. Think of it like this: when you’re not yet on the brink of decline, there’s space to try new ideas, pivot and take calculated risks. The pressure isn’t suffocating you yet, so you can focus on evolving.
And here’s the golden nugget — by reinventing early, you’re staying ahead of the curve. Instead of waiting for the inevitable slowdown, you’re proactive. This keeps you ahead of your competitors and more importantly, it keeps your business or career in line with the changing environment. Reinvention is not just about reacting to what’s happening around you, but about anticipating what’s coming next.
Biomimicry: Lessons in Reinvention From Nature
Just like sloths and dolphins, nature and humans know what to do and how to reinvent. Sloths slow things down, conserving energy and avoiding unnecessary risks. Dolphins keep moving but make sure they come up for air when they need it. The key is knowing when to switch gears — and that’s the essence of reinvention.
For leaders and solopreneurs, this means recognising when you’re in that sweet spot on the left side of the S-curve. It’s the ideal time to evaluate what’s working and what’s not and begin tweaking your strategy for the long haul. If you wait too long, you’ll find yourself scrambling for resources, but if you start early, you’re setting yourself up for a continued upward and abundance trajectory.
Making Redundancy Work For You
Sloths have a way of making certain processes redundant. By slowing their heart rate, they can focus their energy where it counts. In the business world, we could learn a lot from this. Maybe it’s time to streamline your operations, cut down on unnecessary meetings or let go of the stuff that’s draining your time without giving you results.
On the flip side, dolphins teach us that even when you’re going full steam, you have to come up for air. You can’t go all out without taking a moment to recharge. In a world like ours, where the hustle is real, this is an important reminder. Finding those moments of stillness in the busyness is what will keep you going in the long run.
Don’t Judge Me!
Whether you’re slowing things down like a sloth or coming up for air like a dolphin, it’s not about how fast you go — it’s about how well you adapt.
A huge shoutout to Elana Van Zyl for coming through with those random, funny facts in MS Teams that keep me entertained. I clearly spend more time on them than I should (don’t judge me, Elana). They add a spark to the day and I love it!
