Territory vs. Hierarchy

In Steven Pressfield’s book, The War Of Art, he describes how, in the animal kingdom, individuals define themselves either by their rank within a hierarchy (a hen in a pecking order, a wolf in a pack) or by their connection to a territory (a home base, a hunting ground, a turf).

It’s also how humans define their place in the world and find security.

Of the two orientations, hierarchical is the default setting. We naturally run in packs and cliques, we know who the top dog and underdog are. We define ourselves by the position within the schoolyard, the gang, the club. An individual who defines themselves by their place in the pecking order will compete and compare themselves to others based on popularity and rankings. School, advertising, the entire materialist culture hammers home to us from birth to define ourselves by others’ opinions. Drink this beer. Buy these clothes. Get this job. Live in this house, and everyone will love you.

In the animal world there is also a territorial orientation. Every fall, a bear would pass through our former neighborhood on his way to find a place to hibernate. All the bird feeders and berry branches and garbage cans in the area were his. While he was around, no animal dared try to intrude on his territory.
Humans have territories, too. Taylor Swift’s territory is the stage. Connor McDavid’s territory is the rink. When Bill Gates pulls into the parking lot at Microsoft, he’s in his territory. When I’m in front of an audience of difference makers I’m in mine.

According to Pressfield, a territory provides sustenance. Runners and rock climbers and kayakers and yogis and painters and ranchers and entrepreneurs feel a helluva lot better after they’ve spent time in their territory. A territory sustains us without external input. A territory can only be claimed alone. A territory can only be claimed by work. And a territory returns exactly what you put in.

What’s your territory?