It is usually only a matter of time before someone I meet asks where the name of my business comes from…Why the name LEAN Frog?

The frog is a totem of transformation. Throughout history there have been many frog stories, but the old childhood fairy tale about the frog that is transformed into a prince is a good illustration of the frog as a totem of transformation. Also, a frog’s natural transformation from a tadpole into their adult form can symbolize the awakening of one’s creativity.

Frogs are a strong good luck symbol. For many centuries, the frog has been a symbol of abundance, partly due to the very large number of eggs it lays at one time. In Rome, the frog was a mascot believed to bring good luck to the home. The three-legged toad from China is the traditional pet of the immortal Liu Hai, who is also the Chinese god of wealth. This toad is a symbol for riches, and is often pictured with a gold coin in its mouth.

So you could say the name LEAN Frog represents the transformation of companies into more prosperous organizations through the application of Lean philosophy and tools. It could also stand for the creativity and sometimes even the luck required to succeed in business.

The problem is I learned all those things after the fact. The name LEAN Frog was chosen because of my daughter. As a little girl, when my daughter was learning to talk she often mispronounced “Leap Frog” (as in the learning toy company) as “Lean Fog.” When I think of my company’s name, I think about my daughter. While I love what I do, taking care of her and the rest of my family is one of the reasons I founded this company.