A trophic pyramid is a visual model that shows how energy flows through an ecosystem. Producers like plants form the base by converting sunlight into energy. Primary and secondary consumers occupy higher levels.

The pyramid highlights that energy decreases at each level, making producers essential for ecosystem stability and balance.

Producer vs Consumer: Which Are You?

The Pattern Hidden in Nature

Every ecosystem operates on a simple but powerful structure.

At the base of the trophic pyramid are the raw elements of life — sunlight, water, soil, air, minerals.

From these come the producers: plants, algae, phytoplankton. They take what is raw and convert it into energy. Without them, nothing else survives.

Then come the consumers.

Primary consumers eat the plants — buffalo, giraffe, antelope.

Secondary consumers eat other animals.

Predators hunt.

Scavengers feed on what has already died.

But here is something important:

Nature is not as clean-cut as our diagrams.

The Spotted hyena hunts efficiently — often more successfully than lions — but also scavenges.

The Brown hyena scavenges more frequently, yet can hunt small prey.

Even a lion will scavenge when opportunity presents itself.

No animal is purely one thing.

But every animal is driven by instinct.

Humans are different.

The Illusion of the Lion

We are drawn to the lion.

Strength. Dominance. Visibility.

But what happens if predators eliminate all herbivores?

They starve.

Remove predators entirely?

Herbivores overgraze. The land collapses.

In nature, balance regulates survival.

But human society does not operate purely on ecological balance.

It operates on something far more powerful — and dangerous.

Choice.

Biologically Consumers. Socially — We Choose.

Biologically, we are consumers. We must eat to survive.

But socially, economically, spiritually — we can choose to produce.

We can:

Create value
Build systems
Solve problems
Develop people
Generate ideas
Produce hope

Or…

We can scroll.

We can criticise.

We can feed on outrage.

We can live off what others create.

The ecosystem of society has all types.

Builders.

Predators.

Scavengers.

Observers.

But unlike animals, we are not locked into one role.

We decide.

The Forgotten Power of the Producer

In nature, producers are quiet.

They don’t roar.

They don’t chase.

They don’t compete for dominance.

Yet without them, everything collapses.

And perhaps this is the Maverick insight:

The most powerful position is not always the most visible.

It is the most foundational.

Modern Consumption

We consume constantly.

Through our mouths — food.

Through our eyes — screens.

Through our ears — media.

Through our attention — social platforms.

Through our emotions — culture.

We consume education.

Entertainment.

Finance.

Opinions.

Relationships.

Consumption is not the problem.

Imbalance is.

A society full of consumers and no producers collapses.

And so does a life.

The Maverick Distinction

An Everyday Maverick does not measure life by dominance.

A Maverick measures life by contribution.

Not:

“How much did I take?”

But:

“What did I build?”

Not:

“What did I consume?”

But:

“What did I create?”

You get rich takers and poor takers.

You get rich givers and poor givers.

This is not about money.

It is about impact.

Speak. Live. Do.

Some time ago I introduced this rhythm:

Speak Hope.

Live Love.

Do Faith.

That is production.

Hope produces courage.

Love produces connection.

Faith produces movement.

Even small production matters:

A conversation that restores dignity.

An idea that shifts thinking.

A decision that requires integrity.

You do not have to be the lion.

But you do have to choose.

The world has enough consumers.

It is quietly desperate for producers.

Shalom!

Click Send a Gift.

Are You a Producer or a Consumer? Lessons from Nature