How To Eat An Elephant

How Do You Eat An Elephant

How do you eat an elephant? 

That was one of the most heartbreaking, challenging, mind-boggling idiomatic question I have encountered in one of my job interviews. It made me feel like an idiot, with my mind totally spaced out because I was not prepared for that kind of question. The whole night of preparation for set of questions like " Why should we hire you", What can you contribute to the company, and "what are your strengths and weaknesses" were all lost and turned sour in just a few seconds after hearing the actual question of the interviewer. Some people may say that "it's such an easy question" and that you can just answer the question literally. 

I actually do thought of answering literally but I was stunned. When you're in the middle of a formal job interview, it's very hard not to get nervous. There were so many things going on in my mind at that very moment; that it could either be a trick or a trap. I was like, "Really now? What kind of question was that? Are you kidding me? Are you playing tricks on me?" But of course I just said it aloud inside my head. Either way, I noticed how calm and smiling the interviewer was while waiting for the answer. After a few seconds of contemplating if I should answer in a factual way of eating an elephant or save myself from sounding and looking like a fool, I finally answered. I said, "I'm sorry but I don't know." The interviewer just nodded and asked a different question. 

And so the interview took about 15 minutes of questions and answers in which I think I answered the other questions modestly. Except for the first one. Right after the interview, I was ushered to the lobby to wait for the results. As I sat down on one of the couches, I immediately took out my phone and actually googled " How do you eat an elephant". And there it was. I was like slapped straight in the face. The answer which I was pondering about a few minutes ago was, literally, what I was pondering about. 

 How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. It's about breaking down a big task or project or goals into smaller ones and achieving it in a much easier and faster way. The receptionist called my attention and informed me that I can then go home and that they will just call me for the results. I smiled, said my thank you's and casually walked out of the building with a smile. I knew within myself the result of the interview and already accepted it even before hearing about it. 

Just a few hours later, I received a text message informing me that my work experiences and work attitude were impressive and they would be glad if I become a part of the company however,  I wasn't the one they were looking for at the moment. It broke my heart but I still smiled and nodded to myself. At least the message was straightforward and clear. But I was sad because I really wanted to be a part of that company.  And so I blamed the elephant. 

Moral of the story? Do not take yourself too seriously because life doesn't. You may be facing a difficult situation right now. But you can always find the humor in it and the positive side of it and start from there. Life is like a job interview. No matter how you prepare and practice for the typical interview questions, it will always give you a different one. The question you have not prepared for. However, it's not actually about the question. It's how you answer it. You may ask why life had given you a difficult question; why'd it put you in a difficult situation. But ask yourself again, why are you there in the first place? Wasn't it the life you chose? The life you're actually living right now? The dream you're aiming for at that very moment? 

Don't get too overwhelmed of who's in front of you. Think of them as your equal but respect them for their authority to assess you. Don't get too overwhelmed with what's presented in front of you. Think things over and over before answering, before making a decision. The path you will walk on will depend on how you give your final answer. 

Do not be too hard on yourself and take things lightly. Besides, they always say that if it's meant for you, you'll get it. But if it's not, find another way to get it. If it doesn't work out again, then it's really not meant for you. Because you are meant for other things. For better, greater things. But you have to work hard for it. Literally work hard for it. 

It's like eating an elephant, figuratively of course. You cannot eat it whole. You have to cut it and break it down into smaller pieces and eat it one at a time so you can enjoy eating it along the way. You cannot have a delicious meal without exerting some effort to cook it and put the necessary ingredients to make it flavorful. Where's the fun in eating a huge meal and not knowing what it tastes like and eventually having stomach aches for eating a hastily cooked dish?  Break down your life goals into smaller, achievable ones. And eventually work your way into accomplishing the bigger ones until you reach and attain your very goal, triumphantly. 

I may have blamed the elephant because I wasn't able to get the job I was applying for. But I am also thankful for the elephant for making me see a different view of life. That no matter how you wish for life to give you an apple, it will give you a banana. Just peel it, bite it, chew it and savor the flavor. It may not be the flavor you're expecting but it will taste good. Because you are the one who worked hard to make it tasty. 

So the next time you face an interviewer and asks you some idiomatic questions like " How do you eat an elephant", don't feel like an idiot because it's just an idiom. Also, accept the fact that in reality, you may answer correctly but it may not be the best one. You may be the best option there is, but you may not be chosen. You may fail today but you can always try again tomorrow and the next day and the day thereafter. Take a deep breathe, smile and think about why you are in this place, why you must do what you should do and for whom. Think about how you are going to achieve your life goals one at a time and how you are going to easily conquer it. 

Then you're ready to answer.