Feeding The Right Wolf In Your Business Journey

— Jannine Barron

You may have heard the well-known Cherokee parable of an elder who shares a lesson with his grandson about the internal struggle between two wolves. One wolf symbolises anger, envy, greed, and ego, while the other stands for peace, love, kindness, and wisdom.

The grandson asks, “Which wolf wins?”

The elder answers simply, “The one you feed.”

This parable teaches us that the qualities we focus on within ourselves shape who we become. The same holds for the businesses, creative projects, and communities we create.

The ideas and actions we feed within ourselves are the ones that flourish – which works for the bad as well as the good, so be careful what you focus on!

I confess to blaming my environment or other people for where I have ended up in life in the past. Things that happen ‘to me’ have been my focus instead of how I ‘feed’ and ‘respond’ to the situation. I know now that I am always’ free’ when I take responsibility for my actions and thoughts in any given situation. Mind you, it’s not always easy to do immediately – I am human with triggers and emotions …. but I no longer dwell on things with what we call a ‘player mindset’ in coaching.

Although we discuss business in this blog, the principles can be applied to any life situation so have a read and see what thoughts come up for you.

A player mindset is a proactive, engaged, and growth-oriented approach to challenges and opportunities. People with a player mindset view themselves as active participants in their journey, willing to take risks, learn from failures, and continuously improve.

Players embrace challenges as opportunities to grow and take ownership of their choices and outcomes. This mindset contrasts with a “spectator” or “victim” mentality, where individuals passively observe or blame external circumstances for their situation.

This mindset is crucial when you are self-employed and is a key focus of my Regenerative Business Mentoring and our Growth Experience program.

Here are some key characteristics of a player mindset:

  1. Ownership and Accountability: Players take full responsibility for their actions, decisions, and consequences, both good and bad. They recognise but don’t blame external factors. Instead, they focus on what they can control and remain aware of what they can’t. They know that innovation, creativity and learning from nature’s wisdom is helpful when they are stuck.
  2. Embracing Challenges: When you have a player mindset you see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. You know that setbacks are part of the process and provide valuable lessons for future success. Understanding the regenerative model of  – The Adaptive Cycle in this circumstance nature is liberating.
  3. Growth-Oriented: You adopt a growth mindset, believing skills and abilities can be developed through action and learning. You focus on improving yourself and overcoming obstacles. This doesn’t mean seeking challenges all of that time, that would be exhausting  – but not staying in a comfort zone for too long helps you grow.
  4. Taking Initiative: Players don’t wait for opportunities to come to them. They create their path by taking risks, setting goals, and working toward achieving them. This is why I created the H.E.A.R.T method, to help clients achieve goals with a holistic approach.
  5. Problem-Solving: Instead of dwelling on problems, players look for solutions. They have a can-do attitude and are resourceful in overcoming challenges. They focus on their response to a problem instead of being a victim.
  6. Resilience: Players handle setbacks with resilience. They may face failures or disappointments but bounce back, learning from the experience and adapting for the future. If they don’t get the result they wanted, they get the lesson.
  7. Passion and Drive: Players are often driven by a sense of purpose or passion for what they’re doing. This passion fuels their efforts and keeps them motivated even when things get tough. A strong WHY gets you out of bed.

This proactive approach is the foundation for long-term success and fulfilment, especially when running a small business. Adopting a player mindset means taking ownership, staying curious, and embracing responsibility.

If you’ve lost touch with your original purpose and feel caught in the survival trap of small business ownership, now might be your moment to change your approach. After all, nothing changes, and its insane to expect a different result by doing the same actions and having the same thoughts.

The Growth Experience 2025

Our growth is a direct reflection of the priorities we set and nurture. If we want positive impact but focus all efforts on profit at all costs – we’re feeding the wrong wolf.

To thrive, we must feed the wolf that chooses connection, growth, and sustainability over quick wins. By focusing on collaboration, long-term strategies, and a sense of deep impact and purpose, we ensure that our actions align with our values.

When things begin to fall into place, it may seem like magic, but the truth is that it results from consciously nurturing what matters.

If this resonates with you, it might be the perfect moment to reimagine what is possible for you and your small business.

Every September for the last five years I have opened the doors to The Regenerative Business Incubator. Our 2024 program is nearing completion, and we’ve witnessed incredible transformations from brave business owners who embraced the journey this year.

If you’re ready to give yourself the gift of a year dedicated to exploring regenerative business, this is your opportunity to step into a transformative experience in 2025.

Regenerative business isn’t a one-size-fits-all system; it’s a journey. It weaves together inner growth and outer action, supported by nature, community, and proven frameworks.

Whether you’re proactively choosing this path or being nudged by circumstances, engaging with our supportive community could support your next steps.

If you’re curious about the commitment to this year-long journey, I invite you to do one of the following three action.

1 – You can attend a live information session or register for the recording here.

2 – Want to skip the queue and chat directly with Jannine? Book a time here.

3 – You can learn more about The Growth Experience here.


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Jannine Barron, Regenerative Business, The Growth Experience, Monthly Love Letter to Humanity