#70. The Hedgehog Concept In Personal Growth
Find Your Passion & Thrive
Welcome to the blog post #70! Click here to read more from previous posts.
There was a story about a fox and a hedgehog living in a forest. The fox was fast and clever, while the hedgehog was slow. The fox attempted many times to catch the hedgehog but failed. Why?
“The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.” – Archilochus, Ancient Greek poet
Despite playing many different tricks, the fox always walked away defeated. Did the hedgehog have a special power?
No, it had only one advantage - its spines - and focused on it to defend itself.
Every time it was attacked by the fox, the hedgehog curled up into an untouchable ball of spikes. And it worked!
Inspired by this parable, Jim Collins introduced the “hedgehog concept” in his book Good to Great. He argues that truly great companies focus on one big thing that they can do best. But this concept isn't limited to the business realm. We can apply it to our personal growth. Defining our own hedgehogs is like finding our sweet spots. It may take years on a long and continuous journey to explore ourselves.
In today's post, I’m sharing the hedgehog concept and how to find it from the perspective of personal development.
What is the hedgehog concept?
The hedgehog concept is a framework to understand what drives success, whether in business or personal development. It is based on three intersecting questions:
What are you deeply passionate about?
What you can be the best in the world at?
What drives your economic engine?
Why is the hedgehog concept important?
Clarity and focus. The demands of life can pull us in many directions. By finding your hedgehog, you gain clarity about what you love and are good at, allowing you to focus on making it your economic engine.
Differentiation. Combining a skill with passion amplifies its effect. Standing out from the crowd with a unique value proposition increases your chances of success.
Sustainability. Long-term motivation requires a combination of skill, passion, and economic viability. The hedgehog concept provides a clear framework for navigating toward a fulfilling life.
How to find your hedgehog?
Let’s draw a Venn diagram with three overlapping circles, each representing:
Passion (What lights you up?)
Talent (What are you naturally good at?)
Economic Engine (How can you monetize opportunities?)
When your passion combines with your talent, it becomes your hobby. When you have a passion that helps you earn a living, it is your dream. When you monetize your talent or skill, it becomes your job.
The sweet spot where all three circles intersect is your hedgehog - your unique zone of fulfillment and success.
1. Passion
This is the fire that drives you. It’s what makes you excited and motivated. It’s activities that energize you. It can be playing music, coding, writing, teaching, baking, ect.
Ask yourself:
What do you daydream about?
What problems are you naturally drawn to solving?
What activities make you lose track of time when doing them?
2. Talent
It is skills you possess. It is what naturally sets you apart from others. It can be communication, problem-solving, leadership, creativity, ect.
Ask yourself:
What activities come easily to you?
What compliments do you frequently receive?
What skills have you honed through experience or education?
3. Economic Engine
It is about how to turn your passion and talent into sustainable living. Examples include a freelance writing career, a teaching position, a YouTube/TikTok/IG channel, or a handcrafted jewelry business, ect.
Ask yourself:
Can you turn your idea into a viable one?
Are there existing jobs that align with your "hedgehog"?
How can you leverage your skills and passions into a sustainable career or income stream?
Learning from Successful Individuals
Look at Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of America. Her passion for public issues like education, poverty, and healthy living, combined with her talent for effective communication, helped her build a successful career as an author and public speaker.
Another example is Yuval Noah Harari, the author of bestsellers like Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century. His deep passion for history and talent for making complex ideas understandable have made him a successful author, historian, and public speaker.
You might feel that these individuals are exceptional, but being a normal person is different from living an average life. Every person has a unique strength that resonates with their characteristics and core values. The question is about how we can find it.
Hedgehog concepts don’t strike like lightning bolts but develop through an iterative process of self-reflection and analysis. The process is personal. If it takes more time for you than others, don't get discouraged. Embrace the journey of self-discovery and enjoy each step of progress!
P.S: When exploring this concept, I took time to self-reflect and create my own diagram of the hedgehog concept. I’m still contemplating whether to share it publicly on this blog. If you're interested in seeing it, please leave me a message. While I’m still on my journey to fully discover my hedgehog, this self-reflection has undoubtedly given me a clearer sense of self-understanding.
If you’ve already found your hedgehog, I invite you to share it with me so we can learn from each other.
It’s all for today. Till next week!
Cheers,
Do Thi Dieu Thuong