This past weekend I got away to the Colorado mountains with the dog, Capone. Actually, the dog is my son’s, but he lets me take him along and pretend he’s mine. Taking a long walk with a dog gives me a new perspective about things.
Capone lives completely in the present. He doesn’t worry about what he will be doing next week or next month. He doesn’t even worry about dinner, an hour away. While we are walking, he takes in all the forest smells, like deer and moose, and the many other dogs that just passed by earlier.
His favorite part of a hike is to meet other dogs along the way. It’s his part of heaven. Capone, who is a formidable creature himself, does not care what other dogs look like. Whether they’re small, or furry, or young, or old, he is ready to start a relationship immediately and is very happy he has met them. That’s what he lives for.
I could use a little of Capone’s attitude while managing people. He reserves judgement about other dogs until he gets to know them. Now, of course, he’s not in business and does not have goals and deadlines to worry about, but if we spend a little time learning about each other before getting down to the work of work, like Capone, our attitudes will be brighter and we will accomplish much more.
