Spinning Like a Hamster? Put That Energy to Work!

Oct 10, 2025

by Pamela Evans
When I was a kid, my siblings and I had a pet hamster. When we left for school in the morning, it would run in place, turning that exercise wheel at a breakneck speed. When we returned from school in the afternoon, the hamster would be doing exactly the same thing. I don’t think any of us questioned the monotony that little furry creature might experience hour after hour, day after day. That was just what hamsters did in their cages until the bedroom light went off at night—run in place and get exercise.

We often hear people in the workforce refer to the hamster wheel analogy as a metaphor for a situation where someone is constantly busy but not making genuine progress. It's commonly used to describe feeling stuck in a repetitive cycle, like a hamster running on a wheel without moving forward.
In the corporate world, especially during times of global economic uncertainty like this, it’s easy to feel stuck because progress is often blocked by budget cuts, workforce reductions, and a lack of motivation from management and individual contributors to invest in or try something new. We tend to stay in our comfort zones, which may no longer feel comfortable but are still familiar, as we believe there is no other place to go. As a result, we continue to run in place, busy with what we’ve always done. This, along with appearing productive and keeping our heads down, might prevent us and our jobs from being made redundant. Or at least, that is our hope.
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Despite being concerned about market directions and outcomes and dealing with obstacles as they pop up, what can one do while running in place on that hamster wheel?
I recommend the following:
  1.  Find time to imagine the “what’s possible” and jot down those positive thoughts about the future
  2.  Decide to try one small, different approach to achieve something out of your comfort zone
  3.  If management does not see the value of investing, create a convincing business case that will satisfy your organizational needs and help executive management get their jobs done
  4. Brainstorm with other stakeholders inside and outside your organization to discover new potential opportunities and create advocates
  5. Suggest a new technique, process, or system that will benefit the overall business and impact the bottom line.
  6. Create a pilot or utilize a phased approach to test your new, innovative idea
  7. Think about ways to help the business find some quick wins that will demonstrate your organization’s value and give visibility.
  8. Be prepared to invest in yourself regardless of what management does or doesn't do. If attending an industry conference is essential to sharpen your skills, gain new insights to bring back to the business, further develop a growth mindset, or stay on your strategic career path, then make that personal investment.
The physical activity of running should free up some mental space for considering unique solutions. Listen to yourself and take distinctive steps to really move you and your business forward.

Feel free to reach out to GoProBriefings.com for ideas on how to reinvent or reenergize your program.  We’re here to help!