Work Like a Lion

There’s a quote I come back to again and again, first heard on a podcast with Naval Ravikant.

“We’re not meant to graze like cows. We’re meant to hunt like lions.”

Although it sounded silly- I instantly got it. I recognized myself right away in that single sentence. My tendencies to work like a madwoman for two days to then being incapable of anything for the following three. It had a name and I’m not crazy.

We’ve been conditioned especially in the entrepreneurial world to think productivity means being constantly “on.” Eight-hour days. Back-to-back calls. A never-empty inbox. Grazing. Constantly nibbling at work like cows in a field, never quite full, never truly resting either.

But lions don’t do that.

Lions rest. A lot. They conserve their energy, observe their surroundings, wait until the time is right and then they sprint. Focused. Intentional. Fierce. And then they return to rest again. Not lazy. Not passive. Just smart.

Picture from our recent trip to South Africa.

This metaphor has become a quiet revolution in how I approach work, and how I guide others to build sustainable businesses and lives. Because the truth is, we don’t all thrive on a 9-to-5 rhythm. Many of us need deep rest to access deep focus. Many of us do our best work in bursts of clarity followed by integration. Many of us, especially those building values-led businesses need to feel before we can act.

But if we don’t allow ourselves to work like lions, we end up spinning. Performing busyness. Logging hours that don’t reflect our true output or impact. And often, burning out in the process.

Here’s the best part: You are allowed to choose how you work best.

Not how your calendar tells you. Not how your last boss did it or your current one is doing it. Not how Instagram says an entrepreneur should hustle.

Your energy has its own rhythm. Your creativity has its own seasons. The goal is not to do more, but to do what matters- with clarity, presence, and trust in your own pace.

For me, that has meant fewer meetings, more space. Two intense days and five lighter ones. Time offline. Room to think. Time to not think.

For you, it might look different. Maybe early mornings light you up. Maybe your best ideas come after a long walk or a swim. Maybe you need shorter, deeper working sessions. The point is: it’s your rhythm. Honor it.

In sustainability work, we often talk about energy, systems, and balance. Why should your own work be any different?

What if your most powerful contribution doesn’t come from doing more but from working differently?

Maybe today is the day you stop grazing and remember you’re a lion.

With love,

Alexandra Nash