.png)
Not Everyone Who Chased the Zebra Caught It… But Those Who Caught It Chased It
- Kemi Egunyemi
- Apr 5
- 3 min read
As I reflect and analyze the workshop I just finished in San Antonio and prepare for workshops in Virginia and Alabama, this proverb popped in my head.
As I sat with the meaning , it began to unfold into something deeper—something about courage, about growth, and about what it really means to move through life with intention.
My decisions in the seeds that I work plant every day wasn’t just about the outcome. It was about the decision to move.
The Courage to Chase
Chasing anything—dreams, purpose, healing, opportunity—requires courage. Not loud courage. Not performative courage. But the kind that whispers:
“Go anyway.”
Because the truth is, most people don’t fail because they aren’t capable. They don’t even begin.
The proverb reminds us that those who experienced the harvest first had to endure the pursuit. The zebra didn’t walk over and introduce itself. It required effort, risk, and uncertainty.
Courage is not the guarantee of catching the zebra. It’s the willingness to run toward it without knowing the ending.
Growth Lives in the Chase
Too often, we measure success only by what we “catch.”But the chase itself is where transformation happens.
In the process of chasing:
You build endurance
You sharpen your instincts
You learn timing, patience, and resilience
You discover parts of yourself you didn’t know existed
Even those who didn’t “catch the zebra” didn’t walk away empty-handed. They walked away expanded.
Growth is not always visible in results. Sometimes, it shows up in who you become while trying.
Thinking Outside the Box (Because Zebras Don’t Move in Straight Lines)
A zebra doesn’t run predictably. It weaves, shifts, adapts.
So if you’re chasing something meaningful, you can’t rely on rigid thinking.
You have to:
Try different approaches
Rethink your strategy
Let go of what “should” work and lean into what does
Create new paths where none exist
This is where innovation is born.
The ones who eventually “catch it” are rarely the ones who followed a straight, expected path. They are the ones who adjusted, reimagined, and stayed open.
Counting Blessings and Lessons
Not catching the zebra doesn’t mean the journey was wasted.
There are always two things waiting for you at the end of every chase: blessings and lessons.
Blessings:
The connections you made
The doors you didn’t expect to open
The strength you didn’t know you had
Lessons:
What didn’t work
What needs refining
Where you need to grow next
If you only count what you “caught,” you’ll miss the abundance that was already placed in your hands.
The Chase as Stepping Stones
Every attempt, every risk, every bold move—it all builds.
The chase is not separate from the destination. It is the pathway.
Think of it like this:
One chase builds confidence
The next builds clarity
The next builds skill
The next builds alignment
And before you know it, you’re no longer chasing the same way. You’re moving with wisdom.
The people who eventually “catch the zebra” are not just lucky. They are layered—with experience, insight, and persistence built over time.
Reframing the Outcome
So maybe the question isn’t:
“Did I catch it?”
Maybe the better questions are:
Did I have the courage to chase it?
What did this stretch awaken in me?
How did this shape the way I move forward?
Because success is not just in the catching. It’s in the becoming.
Some will chase and catch. Some will chase and those who never chase at all… never meet the possibility.
So chase the thing. Chase it with courage. Chase it with creativity. Chase it with openness to both blessings and lessons.
Because whether you catch it or not—the chase will never leave you the same.
Here's a word from my beautiful sistar:
Comments