Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?

I have a question for you: “Why did the chicken cross the road?”

What’s your answer?

This question first appeared in The Knickerbocker, a New York City magazine. An 1847 issue mentioned it as an example of a mockery that might seem like a riddle but is in fact a straightforward and unfunny example of anti-humor that has been repeated and changed numerous times over the course of history.

Chickens cross the road for many reasons. There are as many reasons to cross the road as there are chickens crossing. Some of my favorite include:

• Martin Luther King: Because it had a dream
• James T. Kirk: To boldly go where no chicken has gone before
• Sir Isaac Newton: Chickens at rest tend to stay at rest. Chickens in motion tend to cross the road
• Aristotle: Because one chicken cannot be more chicken than another. It is the nature of chickens to cross roads
• John Wayne: Cause a chicken's gotta do what a chicken's gotta do

Like all heroes, the great explorer chicken had a choice to stay put and accept the status quo or cross the road and face the unknown. And like all heroes, the explorer chicken chose the unknown, battling dangers of the road to seek possibilities of a brighter tomorrow.

The mindset of an explorer or an adventurer is to embrace the unknown, regardless of how difficult the road may turn out to be.

It doesn’t mean that great explorer chickens aren’t afraid to cross the road to get to the other side. Like all great explorers, they practice acting in spite of fear, in spite of doubt, in spite of worry, and in spite of uncertainty.

I’ve always been inspired by Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken and the lines, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

We are all faced with choices in life and while it can be less worrisome to choose the safest and most familiar road, sometimes it is worth the adventure of taking the road less traveled. Sure, this can be scary at times, but the can far outweigh the risk of living your life on “Status Quo Lane”.

How can two chickens help us navigate in times of uncertainty?

I’m certain we are going to get past this scary, crazy, dangerous 19 crisis. The crisis will pass eventually. Now, however, our changing world all but ensures waking up to a new set of rules, limitations, and the frightening thought that we may be forced to cross roads that we haven’t crossed before. 

Let me introduce you to two chickens, Gutsy George and Big Chicken.

This is a short parable about two chickens and their attitudes and practices while living during uncertain times. 

Gutsy George is fearless. He accepts the risks that come with crossing the road to get to the other side. Big Chicken is afraid to cross the road and explore what’s on the other side.

Big Chicken’s life is filled with fear. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear that he’s not good enough, and fear of the unknown. Fear is what keeps Big Chicken locked in the prison of the comfortable and predictable, which prevents him from crossing the road and exploring new possibilities. Living in fear causes a double conundrum for Big Chicken, he’s unfulfilled with the status quo, yet afraid to pursue anything better.

Big Chicken frequently conjures-up worst-case scenarios even if these scenarios are based on the flimsiest information. His glass is always half-empty and storm clouds seem to loom overhead, never with a silver lining.

Gutsy George uses fear and uncertainty as a motivator. Instead of adopting a “fight or flight” reaction, Gutsy George learned to turn his fears into an ally, into motivation to cross roads that others have yet to explored. Gutsy George has a positive outlook about life. He understands that at times life will throw curve balls, yet he remains optimistic and keeps moving forward.

Four lessons we can learn from Gutsy George to enjoy a brighter tomorrow:

1. Adaptability requires a new mindset. It’s going to take new thinking, different skills, and courage to look for opportunities in places we’ve never looked before.
2. The illusion of stability is treacherous. Adaptability is a competitive advantage. Your ability to adapt to an uncertain and fast-changing world will determine your chances of success.
3. Change is created in collaboration with people—it’s a co-creation experience, not a process. People don’t resist change; they simply don’t want to be changed by others.
4. Your answer to this question will be very illuminating. “Are you changing because you want to or because you have to?” Your response will determine whether you will thrive or merely survive during uncertain times.

So, the next time you come at a crossroads in life, take a step back from the curb and look at your choices and the opportunities available to you. It might be beneficial to cross the road and explore what’s on the other side.

Charlie Anderson is President of the Selling Skills Institute. He is the creator of Shift Thinking, a unique mindset shift teaching method that enables individuals to continue to grow, thrive, and realize their goals and dreams in all areas of life.

If you want to reach out to me, feel free to call or email me. If I can be a helpful resource, I would be glad to respond. No strings attached. Okay?

To contact me call 339-927-2746 or me at [email protected]