The Lean Wolf Leads The Pack

I've been asked why the name, "Lean Wolf Running?" The short version is, a good mate of mine and I were on a long run and towards the end we were pushing hard and it was hurting. Looking for inspiration and resolve to keep up the intensity he said, "the lean wolf leads the pack".
Until then I had never heard this quote from the book Once A Runner by John L. Parker. It resonated with me immediately and on many levels. It did the trick and we finished strong, albeit fatigued.

Over the years since then, I have thought about that quote more times than I can remember and it never ceases to inspire me.

As a runner, "the lean wolf leads the pack" makes me think the one who is the leanest is also the hungriest, they want the prey more than those who are more content. You have to really want it, you have to be able to make the sacrifices (you have to be lean in other aspects of your life), you have to be the most motivated to really go after what you want. Stay lean and stay hungry to reach your goals.

In life, for me it means staying focused on your life goals and not being side tracked with the many unimportant things. Focus on the 1 or 2 truly meaningful things in your life, like family first, and ignore or get rid of your distractions. Leading the pack means being successful in life, not materialistically but finding what makes you happy and content. Stay lean and you will lead the pack. You will be truly happy and content.

As a father, I think of talking with my children about what it means to be a Lean Wolf. About recycling and not being wasteful, About having a small footprint on the Earth. About staying healthy, thinking consciously about what we eat and drink, where those foods come from so our environment stays lean, healthy and free of pollution.

Over the years these and many other permutations of the meanings of "the lean wolf leads the pack" have struck and stayed with me.
How about you? Do you have an inspirational quote or mantra?