All of us tend to look up to big
people for lessons on how to get better. We are keen to learn the secrets of
their success. But we forget that sometimes the biggest lessons in life come
from the smallest folks around us. Now that's a good lesson to
remember!

Take ants for instance. Would you believe those small creatures
can teach us how to live a better life? Jim Rohn - the great motivational guru –
developed what he called the 'Ants Philosophy'.

He identified four key
lessons from the behaviour of ants that can help us lead better lives. Jim Rohn
is no more – but his messages continue to inspire. Here then, are the four
lessons from Rohn's 'Ants Philosophy'.

1. Ants never quit. Have you
noticed how ants always look for a way around an obstacle? Put your finger in an
ant's path and it will try and go around it, or over it. It will keep looking
for a way out. It won't just stand there and stare. It won't give up and go
back.

We should all learn to be like that. There will always be obstacles
in our lives. The challenge is to keep trying, keep looking for alternative
routes to get to our goals. Winston Churchill probably paraphrased the ant's
mindset when he offered this priceless advice: "Never give up. Never, never give
up!"

2. Ants think winter all summer. Remember the old story of the ant
and the grasshopper? In the middle of summer, the ant was busy gathering food
for the winter ahead – while the grasshopper was out having a good time. Ants
know that summer - the good times – won't last forever. Winters will come.
That's a good lesson to remember. When the going is good, don't be so arrogant
as to believe that a crisis or a setback cannot happen to you. Be good to other
people. Save for a rainy day. Look ahead. And remember, good times may not last,
but good people do.

3. Ants think summer all winter. As they suffer
through the unbearable cold of the winter, ants keep reminding themselves that
it won't last forever, and that summer will soon be here. And with the first
rays of the summer sun, the ants come out – ready to work, ready to play. When
we are down and seemingly out, when we go through what looks like a never-ending
crisis, it's good to remind ourselves that this too shall pass. Good times will
come. It's important to retain a positive attitude, an attitude that says things
will get better. As the old saying goes, tough times don't last. Tough people
do.

4. Ants do all they possibly can. How much food does an ant gather in
summer? All that it possibly can! Now that's a great work ethic to have. Do all
you can! One ant doesn't worry about how much food another ant is collecting. It
does not sit back and wonder why it should have to work so hard. Nor does it
complain about the poor pay! Ants just do their bit. They gather all the food
they can. Success and happiness are usually the result of giving 100% - doing
all you possibly can. If you look around you, you'll find that successful people
are those who just do all they possibly can.

Follow the four simple steps
of Jim Rohn's 'Ant Philosophy' – and you'll see the difference. Don't quit. Look
ahead. Stay positive. And do all you can.

And there's just one more
lesson to learn from ants. Did you know that an ant can carry objects up to 20
times their own weight? Maybe we are like that too. We can carry burdens on our
shoulders and manage workloads that are far, far heavier than we'd imagine. Next
time something's bothering you and weighing you down, and you feel you just
can't carry on, don't fret. Think of the little ant. And remember, you too can
carry a lot more on your
shoulders!