How to Train Your Elephant

Set impossible goals: Like balancing on a ball. This is more important for the trainer. The elephant doesn’t know the goal is impossible.

Make a ruthless commitment: Mostly for the trainer. Elephants are automatically committed to the task directly in front of them. 

Practice! Practice! Practice! Repetition is key! Helpful for the elephant, mandatory for the trainer!

Be compassionate: Trainers need to work on this. Elephants already have it in their DNA.

Acknowledge often: Mostly for the trainer, to build self-confidence. Enjoyable for the elephant too.

Never punish: Neither the trainer nor the elephant…ever.

Join Tails: Elephants do this naturally with other elephants. Trainers need to work on this one.

Patience is key: Use it like a verb.

Important because we can learn a lot from training our elephant.