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Rhinoceros Success

Rhinoceros Success

The Secret to Charging Full Speed Toward Every Opportunity
by Scott Alexander 2003 80 pages
3.86
3k+ ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. Embrace the Rhinoceros Mindset: Charge Towards Success

You are a bundle of energy. Every muscle in your body is twitching with excitement. You are after something. You feel that unless you get out and start charging it down, you might explode from all the excess power coursing through your veins.

Rhinoceros mindset. The core philosophy of "Rhinoceros Success" is to adopt the mindset of a charging rhinoceros – powerful, determined, and unstoppable. This mentality encourages individuals to approach their goals with intense focus and energy, much like a rhinoceros charging through the jungle.

Key characteristics:

  • Unwavering determination
  • Intense focus on goals
  • High energy and enthusiasm
  • Willingness to overcome obstacles

By embodying these traits, individuals can break free from complacency and mediocrity, often symbolized as the "cow" mentality in the book. The rhinoceros approach propels one towards success by emphasizing action, persistence, and an unyielding drive to achieve one's objectives.

2. Develop Thick Skin and Persistence in Pursuit of Goals

Never mind. You are a rhinoceros! Your skin is so thick that you hardly feel them. They might knock your breath out once in a while, but you are right back on your feet, ready to charge again and madder than hell!

Resilience is crucial. Developing a "thick skin" is essential for success. This metaphor emphasizes the importance of emotional resilience and the ability to persevere in the face of setbacks, criticism, and obstacles.

Benefits of thick skin:

  • Ability to handle rejection
  • Resilience against criticism
  • Faster recovery from setbacks
  • Increased willingness to take risks

Persistence goes hand-in-hand with thick skin. The book encourages readers to keep pushing forward, even when faced with difficulties or failures. This tenacity is a key differentiator between those who achieve their goals and those who give up when confronted with challenges.

3. Cultivate Audacity and Take Massive Action

Go for it! You shout it at the top of your rhino lungs every morning. You are not afraid of falling, because you know that nothing can hurt you with your two-inch-thick skin.

Boldness breeds success. Audacity is a cornerstone of the rhinoceros mentality. It involves taking bold, decisive action towards your goals without fear of failure or criticism. This attitude propels individuals to seize opportunities and create their own success.

Elements of audacity:

  • Courage to take risks
  • Willingness to stand out
  • Confidence in one's abilities
  • Proactive approach to opportunities

Taking massive action is the natural result of cultivating audacity. Instead of small, incremental steps, the rhinoceros approach advocates for big, impactful moves that can lead to significant progress. This strategy helps overcome inertia and creates momentum towards achieving one's goals.

4. Transform Work into a Passionate Pursuit

Find something that you can really get your horns into and enjoy. Enjoy what you do every day or it will be work, and you will never be fulfilled working at something you can't wait to leave.

Passion fuels success. The book emphasizes the importance of finding work that aligns with your passions and interests. By doing so, work becomes an enjoyable pursuit rather than a dreaded obligation.

Steps to transform work:

  1. Identify your passions and interests
  2. Seek opportunities that align with these interests
  3. Approach your current work with enthusiasm
  4. Plan your escape from unfulfilling work

When work becomes a passionate pursuit, it naturally leads to greater productivity, creativity, and overall success. The rhinoceros mentality encourages individuals to charge towards work they love, rather than settling for mundane or unfulfilling jobs.

5. Prioritize Financial Health through Saving and Tithing

Always remember, though, this is only a hobby. Don't let it become your master. Never be afraid of losing everything you have made. Do not fall in love with money to the point it becomes a burden.

Financial wisdom. The book advocates for a balanced approach to finances, emphasizing the importance of saving and giving. It suggests treating money-making as a hobby rather than an obsession, which helps maintain a healthy perspective on wealth.

Key financial practices:

  • Save at least 10% of your income
  • Consider tithing (giving 10% to charity or religious institutions)
  • Treat money-making as an enjoyable hobby
  • Avoid becoming enslaved to the pursuit of wealth

By following these practices, individuals can build financial security while maintaining a healthy relationship with money. The book argues that this approach not only leads to financial success but also contributes to overall life satisfaction and purpose.

6. Nurture Family Relationships and Personal Well-being

A marriage is like a beautiful garden. It needs to be constantly cared for, nurtured, and appreciated. Watch for weeds and don't let them take root.

Holistic success. The book emphasizes that true success extends beyond financial and career achievements to encompass family relationships and personal well-being. It encourages readers to apply the rhinoceros mentality to all aspects of life.

Areas to nurture:

  • Family relationships
  • Physical health
  • Emotional well-being
  • Spiritual growth

By maintaining balance and applying the same energy and focus to personal relationships and health as to career goals, individuals can achieve a more fulfilling and well-rounded form of success. The book suggests that neglecting these areas can undermine overall success and happiness.

7. Surround Yourself with Like-minded 'Rhinos'

Charge with rhinoceroses, fly with eagles, run with cheetahs, and eat with lions. Don't hang around with cows or sheep. They will pull you down.

Choose your company wisely. The book emphasizes the profound impact that one's social circle can have on personal growth and success. It encourages readers to seek out and associate with other "rhinoceroses" – ambitious, driven individuals who share a similar mindset.

Benefits of associating with 'rhinos':

  • Mutual motivation and encouragement
  • Shared knowledge and experiences
  • Opportunities for collaboration
  • Positive reinforcement of success-oriented behaviors

Conversely, the book warns against spending too much time with "cows" or "sheep" – individuals who may be complacent or negative. These associations can potentially drag one down or discourage the pursuit of ambitious goals.

8. Maintain Balance Across All Life Aspects

In fact, all six major areas of your life affect the others to some extent. For this reason, it is important to keep them in balance.

Holistic approach to success. The book advocates for maintaining balance across various life aspects: financial, work, family, physical, social, and spiritual. It argues that true success and fulfillment come from nurturing all these areas, not just focusing on one or two.

Key life areas to balance:

  1. Financial health
  2. Career satisfaction
  3. Family relationships
  4. Physical well-being
  5. Social connections
  6. Spiritual growth

By applying the rhinoceros mentality to each of these areas, individuals can achieve a more comprehensive and sustainable form of success. The book suggests that neglecting any of these aspects can lead to imbalance and ultimately hinder overall success and happiness.

9. Embrace Continuous Learning and New Experiences

Experience something you have never done before. At least once a week, plan on doing something totally new to you, whether it be skydiving, roller-skating, going to an opera, attending a rock concert, disco dancing, or visiting an art museum.

Growth through novelty. The book encourages readers to continuously seek new experiences and knowledge. This approach fosters personal growth, broadens perspectives, and keeps the mind sharp and engaged.

Ways to embrace learning and new experiences:

  • Read widely across various subjects
  • Try new activities or hobbies regularly
  • Seek out diverse social interactions
  • Travel to new places
  • Take courses or attend workshops

By consistently pushing oneself out of the comfort zone and embracing new experiences, individuals can develop adaptability, creativity, and a broader worldview. These qualities contribute to both personal and professional success.

10. Prepare for and Overcome Inevitable Challenges

Rhinoceroses are always prepared for problems. It doesn't matter how much money you have. You will still have problems.

Resilience in adversity. The book acknowledges that challenges and problems are an inevitable part of life, regardless of one's success or status. It emphasizes the importance of being prepared for these challenges and maintaining a positive, problem-solving attitude.

Strategies for handling challenges:

  • Develop a proactive mindset
  • Build a support network of fellow 'rhinos'
  • Cultivate problem-solving skills
  • Maintain perspective and optimism
  • Learn from setbacks and failures

By adopting these strategies, individuals can navigate difficulties more effectively and use challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. The rhinoceros mentality encourages facing problems head-on rather than avoiding or becoming discouraged by them.

Last updated:

Review Summary

3.86 out of 5
Average of 3k+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Rhinoceros Success receives mixed reviews, with ratings ranging from 1 to 5 stars. Some readers find it motivating and life-changing, praising its simple message of charging ahead like a rhinoceros to achieve success. Others criticize it as simplistic, condescending, and lacking depth. The book's religious undertones and repetitive nature are points of contention. While some appreciate its humor and straightforward approach, others feel it oversimplifies complex issues and fails to provide practical advice for implementing its concepts.

Your rating:

About the Author

Scott Robert Alexander is the author of three motivational books: Rhinoceros Success, Advanced Rhinocerology, and Rhinocerotic Relativity. His work focuses on the concept of becoming a "rhinoceros" in life, encouraging readers to charge ahead towards their goals with determination and persistence. Alexander's writing style is described as simple, humorous, and occasionally repetitive. He incorporates religious elements and Bible references into his work, which some readers appreciate while others find off-putting. Despite criticism for lacking depth, Alexander's books, particularly Rhinoceros Success, have gained a following and are recommended by some motivational speakers and financial advisors.

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