My wife, Cynthia, and I have two Chihuahuas who have shared our lives for the past eight years. I never expected that two little dogs could me so much about business and living my life to the fullest, but that is exactly what they have done. These are some of the lessons I learned from watching them over the years.
1. The best time to act is now.
Dogs don’t sit around and ponder all of the possible outcomes of taking action. Instead, when they see an opportunity, they jump on it. If a piece of food hits the floor of the kitchen, our dogs waste no time pouncing on it. If it turns out to be something they don’t want, they will simply drop it after a brief investigation
We can implement this action habit into our own lives by taking advantage of favorable circumstances that present themselves. Sure, the economic news is full of stories of doom and gloom. But, don’t let that stop you if you discover a great business opportunity. Seize the circumstance by acting on it. If, after investigation, it turns out the opportunity isn’t what you expected, you can always drop it and move on. You never know if one of those situations might turn into the pure gold.
The key is to have the courage to act.
2. Trust your instincts.
It never ceases to amaze me how dogs will immediately get out of situations they don’t feel comfortable with. I was on an evening walk around the neighborhood with the dogs a few days ago when Mandy suddenly stopped in her tracks. I tugged at the leash, but she refused to budge. Instead, she stared intently up the street into the darkness. A few seconds later, the dark silhouette of an animal emerged from an alley ahead of us and crossed the street into the woods. Trusting a feeling that something was wrong, she prevented a potentially dangerous situation for both of us.
We too would be well-served by trusting our instincts more and relying less on rationalizations. If a business opportunity doesn’t feel right, you are likely picking up on an irregularity on a subconscious level. If a potential client or business partner appears to have all of the right qualifications but something feels wrong, trust your instincts and pass on the engagement. More likely than not, you will be happy that you did in the long run.
3. Enjoy the ride.
Every time I ask the dogs if they want to go for a ride, the response is always the same — sheer joy. They don’t care what the destination is. Wherever the trip takes them, they intend on simply enjoying the journey.
Too often, we become mired in focusing solely on a goal and miss out on the joys and opportunities that the journey provides. We spend much more of our time on the way to a goal rather than at the goal. Passing up the joys that the trip provides results in spending most of our time unhappy and relying on an anticipated result to fulfill us.
To make matters worse, when we achieve the goal, we usually just move on to the next target without savoring the satisfaction of that achievement. Taking time to enjoy the journey to a goal and celebrating the achievement of that goal will result in a much more fulfilling experience.
As Leo Babauta of Zen Habits regularly advocates, “Stop waiting for happiness. Happiness is right here, right now.”
4. Express your gratitude.
Dogs don’t complain about the quality of their food, that they don’t have the latest technology in dog beds or that they don’t have the right friends or contacts. Instead, they are grateful for what they have and for the people in their lives. A delightful aspect of having the dogs around is that they regularly express gratitude to us, whether it is via a wagging tail or curling up next to us on the couch.
It’s easy to feel sorry for ourselves because we don’t make as much as our neighbors or we don’t have the dream house that our peers may own. But, there are billions of individuals who would trade places with us in a heartbeat. So, take some time to think about the things you are grateful for in your own life. Simply giving thanks for all that you have and for the people in your life will help make you a happier and more positive person.
5. Engage in pack activities.
Dogs are happiest when the whole family is involved in an activity. Our group outings to the park are the liveliest when all four of us are involved. Always wanting to be part of the action, there is rarely a time when I can walk around the house without a canine shadow following me. When I work from home, I usually do so with a dog in my lap or at my feet. The dogs understand the value of community and the power of interaction with others.
Owning a business can be an isolating and stressful experience at times. Many entrepreneurs struggle with believing that no one else shares their vision or their passion for building a business. Pack activities are essential in helping to manage the day-to-day demands and their effects on us. Uniting and connecting with other similarly-situated people provides a measure of perspective and can be extremely insightful. Find people who are ambitious, smart, hard working, full of ideas and highly passionate about their business. Hanging out with these like minds will not only have you feeling more at peace, but will also inspire you to push for more in your life and business.
So, get out there and find your own pack.
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