The Hare and the Tortoise: A Lesson in Self-Sabotage

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 43 seconds

Ever heard the story of the hare and the tortoise? Or maybe the rabbit and the tortoise? If not, do yourself a favor and check out this story. It’s a classic tale, and while it’s simple, it packs a punch. Here’s what hit me: I’ve been living like the hare my entire life, caught in a cycle I didn’t even realize I was in. It’s like a sneaky form of self-sabotage that’s so subtle you might not even see it until it’s too late. I was so confident in my ability to win, to achieve my goals, that I’d take breaks, get distracted, and celebrate too early—long before I’d actually crossed the finish line. This wasn’t just a one-time thing; it was a habit. And the worst part? I didn’t even realize it until now.

The Bitter Truth

I’ve been sabotaging myself. I’d start strong, full of energy and confidence, but just when I was about to finish—when I was on the last question, the final step—I’d get distracted. My phone would buzz, or something else would catch my attention, and I’d tell myself, "I can finish this later." I’d even start celebrating early, mentally patting myself on the back for a job well done.

But here’s the thing: the job wasn’t done. I was literally steps away from the finish line, but instead of pushing through, I’d let myself off the hook. I’d convince myself that finishing tomorrow was good enough. But it wasn’t. I was falling into a trap, a sneaky cycle of self-sabotage that kept me from truly winning.

The Wake-Up Call

Ironically, the wake-up call came one day when I was working on the last question of a project. The funny story is, I’ve already been made aware of this tendency of mine, fairly recently and so it hit me like a ton of bricks to literally see myself in this modus operandi.

I’d been focused for over an hour, and I was almost done. Then, my phone buzzed. A WhatsApp message popped up, and suddenly, I found myself chatting away, distracted. I even thought to myself, "Yay, almost done!" and started celebrating with a friend who just pinged me.

You might think, "Just put your phone on silent mode, and you won’t get distracted."

Well, my phone was on silent, even in airplane mode—that’s how I zone in. But in that moment, on my last question when I could taste the finish line, I switched my phone back on. How crazy is that? It was like I’d already finished, as if I’d already crossed the finish line.

But I hadn’t actually finished. I was literally on the last question, but instead of pushing through, I let myself get distracted. I thought, "I can finish this tomorrow." After all, it was just one more thing, right? Wrong.

As I was about to call it a day, something clicked. Why was I about to leave the job unfinished when I was so close? Why was I already celebrating when I hadn’t crossed the finish line? It was like I’d put in all this effort, only to drop the ball at the last second.

And this is just one small instance. What about the ones I’ve missed out on, or the bigger ones about my goals and dreams? It’s scary how unconscious this is—you get the idea.

Finish First, Then Celebrate

This whole experience got me thinking: Why do I let myself celebrate too early? Why not finish first, then celebrate? That little burst of arrogance, that sneaky self-sabotage, can cost me the win if I'm not careful.

My note to self here is simple: Finish what you start. Don’t let distractions or overconfidence throw you off course. The race isn’t over until it’s over, and you don’t win by thinking you’ve already crossed the finish line.

Breaking the Cycle

So for those that can relate to my story, the next time you’re tempted to take a break or give yourself a pat on the back too soon, remember the hare and the tortoise. The tortoise wins because he keeps going, slow and steady, until the end. Let’s be more like the tortoise—finish what we start, and then celebrate. Because the real victory is in crossing the finish line, not in thinking you’ve already won before you’re even there.

 

Food for Thought

• What are some self-sabotaging habits or cycles you've noticed in your own life? How have they held you back from reaching your goals?
• Have you ever found yourself celebrating too early, only to realize you hadn’t actually finished? What happened after?