Earlier this week, you may have read the tale of the great escape as told by the escapee, Captain Jack. The dude showed he’s still got game when it comes to getting unleashed – or in this case running with the leash still secured to him. He explained the extra “baggage” kept him from being able to fully maximize his agility and nimbleness, so he was quickly corralled by yours truly.
All that being said, one can learn a few post-event from his response.
Although being scolded, Captain Jack showed no remorse. He trotted home accepting the fact that his adventure was short-lived; he drank up the entire bowl of water; went to the window to get a full stretch, and then settled in for a much deserved nap.
Very often, when we humans fail at some attempt at a new opportunity – maybe it was a sales call, an interview, a misunderstanding, or just a good attempt that went awry – we allow that failure to become “leashed” to us for hours, days, months, or even years.
Dogs have it figured out better. They chalk up failure to happenstance or serendipity and just move on. They are seeking out that next smell; or that next opportunity. Wasting time on failures means you just might miss that next chance for success.
Take it from dogs – Be bold and courageous and do your best. If it works, great. If you fail, then you’ve learned something. If you walk away from failure without having learned something and improving yourself, then the failure wins. If you walk away from failure and let it stick around and rent space in your brain, then it wins again. The only way you win is to dump the leash and be free to check out new smells and new opportunities to run.
© 2015 Toro Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved
Read more Captain Jack in my (or our) new book, Unleashed Leadership. Pre-orders now being taken with a subs
tantial discount. Order today and assure you get a signed copy on the first release in October!
“This book has arrived at a great time for you, because no matter what stage of growth you currently occupy, Dan will help you to grow further and faster. He creates positive change with positive psychology, but also creates sustainable results through the mastery of the skills and behaviors required for ongoing success. Make no mistake, this isn’t a “self-help” book. You need Dan’s help, as so many others have.” Excerpt from Foreword by Alan Weiss, author of Million Dollar Consulting and 60 other business books in 12 languages
