Saturday, August 30, 2025

Start learning AI in 2025

Keeping up with AI is hard – we get it!

That’s why over 1M professionals read Superhuman AI to stay ahead.

• Get daily AI news, tools, and tutorials

• Learn new AI skills you can use at work in 3 mins a day

• Become 10X more productive

Sign up and start mastering AI

At first glance, this quote challenges how we usually think about survival and success. Many assume that the most powerful or the most intelligent naturally rise to the top. Yet, history—and life—tell a different story. It isn’t sheer strength or intelligence that guarantees survival. It’s adaptability.

The ability to adjust when circumstances shift is the true key to thriving. Strength can fade. Intelligence can become rigid. But adaptability allows us to pivot, learn, and grow when the world demands something new.

The Real Origin of the Quote

Interestingly, Charles Darwin never wrote this exact sentence. While it captures the spirit of his theory of natural selection, it’s actually a paraphrase popularized in the 20th century.

The closest Darwin came was describing how species most suited to their environment are the ones that survive and reproduce. Later, Leon C. Megginson, a professor of management, adapted Darwin’s concept into the version we recognize today. Since then, it’s been widely quoted in business, leadership, and personal growth circles as a timeless truth: adaptability is survival.

Why Adaptability Matters More Than Ever

• In Personal Growth: Life doesn’t unfold in a straight line. Careers shift, relationships evolve, and unexpected challenges arise. Those who learn to adjust rather than resist change become more resilient.

• In Business & Leadership: Companies that innovate and evolve with customer needs outlast those that cling to outdated models. Think about Blockbuster versus Netflix.

• In Everyday Life: Being responsive to change doesn’t mean losing who you are—it means having the flexibility to stay relevant and strong no matter what comes your way.

The people and organizations that thrive are not always the most powerful or the most brilliant—they are the ones most willing to adapt.

How to Become More Adaptable in Daily Life

1. Stay Curious: Treat challenges as opportunities to learn something new.

2. Practice Flexibility: When plans shift, look for new possibilities instead of focusing on what went wrong.

3. Strengthen Resilience: Build habits like journaling or mindfulness to stay grounded during uncertainty.

4. Embrace Lifelong Learning: Continuously upgrade your skills so you can pivot when the world changes.

5. Reframe Change as Growth: Instead of fearing disruption, ask, “What can this teach me?”

📚 Resource List: Thriving Through Change

Books

• On the Origin of Species – Charles Darwin

• Who Moved My Cheese? – Spencer Johnson

• The Obstacle Is the Way – Ryan Holiday

• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol S. Dweck

• Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder – Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Articles & Essays

• Darwin, Megginson, and the Misquotation of Adaptability – A clarification on the origin of the quote

• Harvard Business Review: Adaptability – The New Competitive Advantage

Podcasts & Talks

• The Tim Ferriss Show – Insights from leaders on resilience

• TED Talk: Embrace the Shake by Phil Hansen

• Dare to Lead Podcast by Brené Brown

Practical Tools

• Journaling for Change – Reflect on moments of growth through flexibility

• Skill-Building Platforms (Coursera, LinkedIn Learning)

• Mindfulness Apps (Headspace, Calm, Insight Timer)
  

Final Thought

Darwin’s insight, whether in his own words or through the lens of others, continues to hold true: the world rewards adaptability. Strength and intelligence are important, but without the willingness to evolve, they eventually lose their edge.

When change comes—and it always does—the question isn’t “Am I the strongest or the smartest?” It’s “Am I willing to adapt?”