You know that saying, “The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese”? Every time I hear it, my brain does a weird little double-take. Like, yes, of course—be early, be eager, be ahead of the pack. But also… don’t rush in so fast you end up pancaked under the mousetrap. There’s a balance here, and honestly, I kind of love that this one quote captures both hustle culture and anti-hustle wisdom in one tidy package.
Team Early Bird
Let’s talk about the worm half first. The early bird types are the people who get up at five a.m., journal about their intentions, run ten miles, drink a green smoothie, and then post about it on Instagram before I’ve even had my coffee. These are the folks who seem to always snag the best seats at concerts, preorder books before anyone else knows they exist, and have their tax returns filed by January 5th.
And I get it—being early often does pay off. My bookstore days taught me that. We’d get a box of newly released books, and whoever grabbed the bestseller first got bragging rights. (Yes, booksellers totally do this. “I called dibs on the first signed copy of the new Harry Potter!”) Being first sometimes means you get the shiny thing before it’s picked over, and that can feel like a victory.
But… worms? I’m not that into worms.
Team Second Mouse
Now, the cheese. This is where I mentally raise my hand. Because I’ve been the early mouse before—the one so eager to jump into something that I didn’t notice the obvious trap. I once launched a little online shop for my writing without double-checking the shipping fees. Turns out, mailing a single paperback to Europe cost more than the book itself. I learned the hard way. Had I waited a little longer, I could have watched someone else hit that trap first and figured out a better system (I did later, but it took me awhile).
That’s the charm of being the second mouse. You get to observe, wait a beat, see where the danger is, and then swoop in and enjoy the rewards. Honestly, some of the best things in my life happened not because I was first, but because I paused, let someone else test the waters, and then slid in when it was safer.
Like Netflix. Remember when it first launched streaming and the internet speeds were terrible? Movies would freeze mid-scene, pixelate, or buffer for ten minutes. I waited until streaming actually worked before diving in, and wow, my patience paid off.
Where I Land
Honestly, I think I’m somewhere in the middle. I like to think I’ve got a foot in each camp. There are moments when I’ll rush in like the bird—usually when it comes to buying tickets for a concert by a band I love.
But most of the time? I’m totally fine being the second mouse. There’s something comforting about letting other people test the mousetraps of life. You watch, you learn, you move carefully, and then you grab your cheese without getting whacked.
Why This Quote Sticks With Me
I think what I like most is that it acknowledges two truths at once. Sometimes, being first is brilliant. Sometimes, it’s reckless. And sometimes, waiting is wise. It’s basically saying: there isn’t just one way to “win.” Success can look like eagerness or patience, action or observation.
And maybe that’s the real lesson: know when to be the bird and when to be the mouse. Don’t force yourself into one role all the time. Life’s a mix of worms and cheese.
So, tell me: are you more of an early bird or a second mouse? Personally, I’m holding out for a saying about a third animal—maybe the lazy cat who gets fed without doing either.
Sixteen-year-old Nick thought his biggest problem was a book report. Then came the tingling skin, the eerie stomach lurches… and the realization he can see ghosts. When the dead start whispering his name, Nick’s “typical teen phase” becomes anything but. Grab your copy HERE