The Myth of the Boiling Frog
You’ve probably heard the story. Drop a frog into a pot of boiling water and it’ll immediately jump out. But put the frog in cool water and slowly raise the temperature, and it’ll calmly sit there until it boils to death.
It’s a story that illustrates how we often don’t notice or tolerate slow unproductive changes.
It’s a great concept. But the story isn’t true.
Frogs are highly sensitive to changes in temperature. As the water becomes uncomfortably warm, they instinctively try to escape. They don’t politely simmer while contemplating their life choices.
Incremental Change Often Goes Unnoticed
For example, our clients put off saving and investing for retirement. “I’ll do better next month.”
This happened to me during COVID. I literally put on the “Covid 19.” (Thankfully, I’ve lost it all while training for a 100-mile bike ride.)
We all postpone difficult conversations from time to time. Sometimes we gradually accept lower standards in our businesses, our relationships, or our health because each day’s change is almost too small to notice. Or we think we can correct the trend whenever we choose.
Unlike frogs, we have an amazing ability to rationalize a slow boil.
The frog isn’t the one we should be worried about. Where in your life or business are small, almost invisible changes quietly moving you farther from where you want to be?
For Advisors – It Can Be Subtle
Very few advisors suddenly stop growing. More often, growth slows one small decision at a time. They get busy serving clients and spend a little less time nurturing relationships. They attend one less networking event. They postpone lunch with a strategic partner. They publish content a little less frequently. They stop asking thoughtful questions that uncover opportunities to help.
None of these decisions seems significant on its own. Together, they gradually weaken visibility, relevance, and the flow of new opportunities.
The same is true with referrals. Advisors don’t typically lose referrals because clients stop appreciating their work. They lose momentum because they slowly stop giving clients new reasons to talk about them, share their value, and make meaningful introductions.
What you do or don’t do now will usually show up 6 to 9 months later.
Small, consistent actions compound. One valuable conversation each week. One thoughtful client touchpoint. One introduction facilitated between clients. One lunch with a strategic partner. One useful article shared with your network. Like compound interest, these seemingly modest investments build on one another over time, creating stronger relationships, greater trust, and a more predictable stream of ideal clients.
The key is – always – awareness, i.e., noticing the direction you’re headed and making small course corrections before small changes become big consequences.
The frog myth is false because people accepted a story without questioning. The life lesson is true because people often accept slow change without questioning.
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