The Salmon’s Journey

The Journey of Perseverance: Learning from Nature's Examples

In his book "Shortcut for a Better Life", the writer Ziad Rayess mentions: For seven or more years, I’ve been researching and working on writings and lectures that can benefit those around me. I’ve also been interested in the new generation. The truth is that I’ve always suffered from a lack of responsiveness and interaction from youth, which I attribute to a lack of interest on their part. Or perhaps it was because the material was lacking or was not the type of thing young people would be interested in, etc.

But then I realized that the amount of people who were interested and who followed me, opened my content, and listened to it might be less than 5%! And 5% of that 5% would watch the video to the end, and 5% of those people would share it, and so on.

Yes! This was the reality, and it inspired my conviction that I must try again and again, with determination and patience, to get my information out there. I would stop at nothing and try every avenue. This perseverance is no different from the world of nature.

My experience reminded me of the journey of the salmon that lays its eggs in fresh water, then leaves to go live in the ocean, where they grow up for about four years. Only 30% of them will begin the journey back up the river to the spawning grounds, confronting huge challenges that will take the lives of most. A fish will traverse about 4,000 kilometers [2,485 miles] on their journey, as if they have their own GPS to show them the way, swimming against the current and up the waterfalls. Salmon are uniquely capable of jumping 2–3 meters to get over the waterfalls surging against them in order to reach their spawning grounds. No more than 5% return to the ocean again.

Many wild animals are like this, painstakingly trying again and again to catch their prey. Their success rates are as follows:

1. Lions (“kings of the jungle”): 17–19%
2. Wolves: 14%
3. Bears: 10%
4. Tigers: 5%

It’s worth noting that the success rate for catching prey increases among lions to 30% of all attempts, if the hunt is done collectively.

Like lions, we need joint efforts along with patience and persistence to spread the necessary information and awareness and reach our goals.

Conclusion:

Success does not always come easily, and failures are a given. However, as Rayess reminds us, the key to success is perseverance, determination, and a willingness to explore all options. We can draw inspiration from nature, where animals like salmon and lions struggle to achieve their goals but, through joint efforts, increase their chances of success. By adopting a similar approach and working collaboratively, we can overcome obstacles and accomplish great things. So, let's keep in mind that success often requires patience and persistence, but with the right attitude and support, we can achieve our goals and make a difference in the world.