Small But Mighty: Lessons in Persistence from the movie “The Wild Robot”

Recently, I watched a movie called The Wild Robot that left me thinking about the value of persistence. The story follows a small goose, rescued and raised by a kind robot in the wilderness. Despite its humble beginnings, the goose faces challenges, ridiculed for its small size and often feeling out of place among its kind. But instead of letting those circumstances define it, the goose learns to swim and eventually to fly. By the end of the story, it leads its flock through the harshness of winter and returns, stronger and more resilient.

What struck me about this story is how much it mirrors our own lives. So often, we find ourselves in situations where we feel small, whether it's at work, in our personal lives, or when facing new challenges. There are moments when we might be underestimated or doubted, not just by others but by ourselves too. And yet, just like the goose, it's our persistence that ultimately matters.

Persistence Is Key - The goose didn’t grow larger or stronger overnight, it kept going, kept trying, even when things were hard. That’s the power of persistence. We often think success comes to those with the most talent or the best resources, but in reality, it’s those who refuse to give up who make it. No matter how many times we stumble, the key is to get back up, to try again. It’s a lesson I’ve seen time and again in my own life. Success is more about showing up consistently than about being the best from the start.

As John Wooden once said,

"It’s not how big you are, it’s how big you play."

It’s our determination, not our circumstances, that defines us.

Hardship Prepares Us to Lead - Another powerful lesson from the story is how the goose grew to lead its flock through the winter. What’s interesting is that it wasn’t the biggest or strongest of the group, but it became the leader because of its resilience. In life, it’s often those who face the most challenges who develop the strength and empathy needed to lead others. The obstacles we encounter can shape us, make us stronger, and prepare us for bigger roles.

Sometimes, it’s the very things that seem to hold us back that equip us to move forward.

Never Give Up on Growth - Throughout the story, the goose never stopped growing. It could have accepted its small size, but instead, it embraced the process of learning and adapting. The same holds true for us. We may face moments where we feel out of place, where the odds seem against us, but if we keep pushing, we can grow beyond those limitations. Growth doesn’t always happen quickly, it comes in stages, and sometimes, the struggles we face now are preparing us for something much bigger down the road.

The story of The Wild Robot reminded me that life is full of these moments, where persistence, no matter how small, can lead us to extraordinary places.

The value of never giving up is one that we can all carry with us. No matter how small we feel or how tough the journey seems, it’s our persistence that leads us to success. Like the goose in The Wild Robot, we can learn to swim, we can learn to fly, and we can lead others, even when we don’t see it coming. It’s not the circumstances that define us, but our determination to keep moving forward.

The Wild Robot isn’t just an animated movie, it’s a story that deserves an Oscar, not for its glamour, but for how powerfully it showcases the simple yet profound message of perseverance. It’s a film that reminds us that even the smallest of us can rise to lead.