“Everything I learned, I learned from dogs.” – Nora Roberts, Author. I love that quote because it’s so true!
We can learn a lot from our dogs if we just pay attention. My remarkable rescue dog, Guinness turned 5 today and I wanted to celebrate him while sharing with you what he has taught me about life & business over the last few years!
But first, here’s a little background on sweet Guinness. I don’t know where he was born or who was his first owner, but I do know he went through quite a lot before I adopted him.
Apparently, he was abandoned in a condo where the building property manager found him all alone. He was taken to a shelter and adopted by a young couple. Unfortunately, the woman did not connect with him, so back to the shelter he went.
During that time, it was freezing cold and he ended up with an infection in his back leg and his tail. Guinness was not in good shape at all. Although, he received treatment, part of his tail had to be amputated.
Thanks to an incredible vet and team and his foster Mom, Carole, they saved his life.
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Guinness healed well during his stay with Carole, his foster mom and then was returned to the shelter to await adoption. That is when I found him online! One visit was all it took… I brought him home with me the day after our first meeting… St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2017, hence his name! Now… are you ready to hear how he changed my life for the better? Here goes!
Be Patient
So Guinness is an 80+ pound Swiss Mountain/Rottweiler mix who has an abundance of patience. When he’s around other dogs, he will let them go first… always waits his turn. He takes everything at a nice, easy, steady pace, which reminds me to not get overly anxious and keep things in perspective. He sits close to you when he knows you need some attention and extra loving.
“The patient dog knows the reward will come.” – Anon
When it comes to building a team in the network marketing business model, we tend to expect things to happen very fast. We expect people to respond immediately and start growing their business. Well…we know it does not work that way so we need to have patience just like Guinness.
Be An Instigator
While Guinness appears patient most of the time, every now and then he can be a real instigator… especially when playing with his cousins, Paisley, Bruce and Chonk. He’ll get them riled up, barking loudly and showing who is boss. He doesn’t let the other dogs rest until he’s ready, and if there has ever been a ‘dog with a bone’, he is it.
“A dog can’t think that much about what he’s doing, he just does what feels right.” – Barbara Kingsolver, Author
Similarly, you have to be a ‘dog with a bone’ in your business…you can never sit still. You always have to be inspiring your team members and building toward your goals and dreams. You have to get the team up and running and yes, you want them to chase you, to catch you and even surpass you if they can. But, it is certainly going to be a run for their money, so you have to be an instigator, to create movement.
Be Bold
There are times in Guinness’s quiet demeanor when he show his fearless side and goes after what he wants! If squirrels, rabbits and other critters cross our path while on a walk, he practically pulls my arm out of my socket! There is no question – he is bold, brave and fearless.
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain, Author
With your team members, you do need to be both bold and fearless. This will not only instill confidence in themselves and their business but also within you. Furthermore, they want a leader who is bold and fearless, to lead them and to help them succeed.
I hope you enjoyed learning about Guinness and what he has taught me about life & business. Be patient, be a ‘dog with a bone’ and be bold and fearless in everything you do. You will be glad you did, and the ‘treats’ you receive, will be so rewarding! I’d love to hear your dog stories, so make sure to contact me here!