What Elephants Teach Us About Grief and Business

What Elephants Can Teach Us About Business, Grief, and the Legacy We’re Building

When a herd of elephants paused to honor the bones of a fallen member, it reminded me that grief and business aren’t separate journeys. As entrepreneurs, our stories — even the painful ones — shape how we serve. Real connection starts when we stop rushing and start remembering.

Susie Taylor

May 31, 2025 - 2 min read

By Susie Taylor | Contributor WBN News | 31 May 2025

Several weeks ago, I watched a nature documentary about a herd of African elephants on the move. As they migrated through their territory, they came across the bones of one of their own. And they stopped. Not just to sniff or investigate — but to pause. They gently touched the bones with their trunks, turning over ribs and tusks, standing silently in what could only be described as reverence.

Then, slowly, they moved on.

That moment struck me to my core — not just as a grieving mom who lost her son, but as a business owner trying to find meaning after a world-shattering loss. In that image of the elephants, I saw something so many entrepreneurs overlook: the power of honoring where we’ve been, as we build where we’re going.

In business, we’re taught to keep moving — launch the next thing, push the next offer, forget the past and focus on results. But real connection happens when we pause. When we acknowledge the stories, the scars, and yes, even the grief that shapes our path.

Your business isn’t just a to-do list or a funnel. It’s a reflection of your values. And those values are often born from the hardest parts of your life.

The elephants didn’t forget. They integrated. They carried the memory forward.

That’s what legacy brands do, too.

You can — and should — build forward. But you don’t have to erase what brought you here to do it. Whether it’s a hard lesson, a career pivot, or a profound personal loss, your story belongs in your brand. Your people want to know why you care. Why you serve the way you do. Why this work matters.

When you share that — with humility, with clarity, with heart — your marketing becomes more than messaging. It becomes meaning.

So if you’ve been through something hard and wondered if it’s “too much” to share, I invite you to consider the elephants. Pause. Remember. Then keep walking.

With grace. With strength. With purpose.

After all, the most impactful businesses don’t just sell.
They connect.
They serve.
They remember.

Contact: Susie Taylor - susie.taylor.writer@outlook.com

Tags: #Entrepreneurship #Grief And Business #Purpose Driven Business #Storytelling #AuthenticMarketing