Be Thick-Skinned—and Cold-Blooded! If you are thin-skinned, you will feel every prick of your porcupine’s anxiety. Try to be thick-skinned instead. And don’t react off-the-cuff. Instead, go slow. Be a tortoise! Your porcupine will burn through her energy quickly, and once he does, you will be on top. Slow and steady wins the race!