| Let me start off by saying that I have never been a | | | | 4. Forgive and Forget and Move on. Pico is the most |
| pet lover; never grew up with animals in the house. | | | | forgiving dog I have known. There are occasions |
| However, over the last 10 years of enjoying the | | | | when I had mistakenly harshly chastise him for |
| companionship of Pico (my terrier), he has taught me a | | | | misbehavior. He will shrink from me with both ears |
| lot about business. Here are his words of wisdom. | | | | drooping down to show how sorry he is. When I |
| 1. Always be ready to respond when an opportunity | | | | realized some mishap is not his fault and apologize to |
| presents itself. Pico sleeps most of the day and when | | | | him, he is quick to forgive and forget and bounces right |
| he is awake he is largely off in his own world. | | | | back to his happy and loving self. He doesn't go to a |
| However, when it comes to food, he is alert and | | | | corner and pout for several hours as I have heard |
| ready. My wife and I food shop on Saturday mornings. | | | | other dogs do. He immediately moves on, probably |
| When we arrive home, we spend several hours | | | | hoping I will give him a treat for no other reason than |
| preparing meals for the next 2-3 days. Our activity is a | | | | he is so cute! He doesn't expect me to give him |
| combination of cutting up a variety of vegetables for | | | | anything, just hopes I will. |
| salads as well as preparing meals that can be | | | | 5. Be grateful. Pico is grateful for everything I give him - |
| refrigerated and then popped into the oven during | | | | whether it is a small morsel of food or a big tasty |
| weeknights. Pico will race around the kitchen, back and | | | | treat. He wags his tail so fast to show his gratefulness |
| forth between the two of us ever ready for us to | | | | that sometimes I am afraid it may just drop off! He is |
| drop some food. Even though he knows he is | | | | thankful for whatever he gets, even if it is just a pet |
| supposed to "leave it" (a command we had taught him | | | | on the head. |
| so he will not gobble down our medication should we | | | | Likewise, I have learned to be grateful for all things big |
| accidentally drop a pill), he is still ever vigilant in his quest | | | | and small that I am blessed with. |
| for food. We seldom feed him as we are preparing | | | | 6. Don't be afraid to ask. While Pico doesn't beg for |
| food and never feed him from the table; but he is still | | | | food at the dinner table he has found me to be fairly |
| ready, waiting for the opportunity to get food. If he | | | | consistent in giving him a treat after my dinner. So |
| wasn't "at the ready" at all times, he would have | | | | much so, that when I settle in for the evening he |
| missed out on the rare occasions when a piece of | | | | stands in front of me, vigorously wagging his tail, asking |
| vegetable will fall to the floor and he gets the | | | | for his treat. When he first started this course of |
| opportunity to obey the command to "leave it" and | | | | action, I thought he needed to go outside and couldn't |
| ultimately gets rewarded with either a treat or a | | | | understand why since I had just let him outside. I give |
| different piece of vegetable. | | | | him a treat and after he devours it, he settles down |
| I've learned to be ready for opportunities that come | | | | for the night, lying contentedly on the couch with a sigh. |
| my way, whether it is a chance meeting with business | | | | Pico is never tentative when he asks; he sits in front of |
| contacts, or being able to learn something from an | | | | me, looks me in the eye, wags his tail and will keep |
| article, book or conversation. Pico has taught me to be | | | | doing that until I give him the treat. Lesson learned |
| alert for opportunities at all times in all circumstances. | | | | here? Be direct when asking and quiet persistence |
| 2. Don't wait to show appreciation. When I pet Pico, he | | | | pays dividends! |
| instantly licks me in return. He doesn't just sit there and | | | | 7. It's Never Too Late to Learn. Up to the age of 7, |
| enjoy being petted and then think to himself, "Aaah this | | | | during our meal times, Pico would stand under the |
| is so nice; maybe I will show Alan I really appreciate | | | | table, hoping to share in some of the delicious smelling |
| him showering me with all the attention tomorrow". | | | | food that we were having. One day, I decided my wife |
| Instead his response is right there and then. It is | | | | and I should be able to eat dinner without a dog circling |
| inherent in Pico's nature that he will show his gratitude | | | | around our feet. I started teaching him to go to his |
| immediately to someone for what he is receiving. | | | | "chair", a place designated for him to wait until we are |
| There are many ways that I receive help from my | | | | done with dinner and he is released. When we release |
| daily interactions with people in the business world, | | | | him he would get a treat. I was skeptical that he will |
| ranging from big collaborative efforts to small | | | | learn this new command; after all "one can never |
| kindnesses shown to me. Just observing how good I | | | | teach an old dog new tricks". Pico was 49 in human |
| feel to be appreciated by Pico when he reciprocates | | | | age and I held no hope of him getting it. It took a while |
| immediately to my petting, I learned how much more | | | | for him to understand what "go to your chair" and |
| so my business associates will like it when I let them | | | | "stay" meant, but with treats and my persistence in |
| know not minutes, hours or days later that I not only | | | | leading him back to his chair whenever he jumps off |
| noticed their help right away but also appreciate it. In | | | | before we finished paid off big time. Now he goes to |
| return, I will also start thinking for ways I can give back | | | | his chair, stays there while we eat dinner. He gets |
| either to them or pay it forward to others. | | | | released with an "all done" command and he is |
| 3. When you are genuinely happy to see people you | | | | rewarded with "Bacon Bites" his favorite treat! All is |
| know, show and/or tell them. When I come home | | | | well at the Wilson household at dinner time! |
| whether I have been gone for 30 minutes or 3 days, | | | | Pico taught me to disregard stereotypical thinking and |
| Pico is always there at the door, wagging his tail, | | | | "never say never". If a dog, who cannot reason, can |
| jumping up and down, ecstatic to see me! He doesn't | | | | learn new "skills" at an age where intelligent humans |
| care if I brought anything home for him nor does he | | | | think is not possible, we humans can definitely do it |
| wait to see my reaction to him before he responds; he | | | | faster and better at any age. We are never too old to |
| is just glad to see me and lets me know it. | | | | learn new skills. I embrace life-long learning not just for |
| I think about people that I am happy to see again but | | | | the "Bacon Bites" that may come with learning, but |
| too often just get by shaking hands or utter a weak | | | | more importantly for the pure joy and satisfaction in |
| "hi". When I am really glad to see someone, let them | | | | taking on a new challenge and succeeding in having |
| know - I don't have to jump up and down with joy, but | | | | learned something new. |
| my focus should be to let my friends know I am glad | | | | Pico has taught me a lot over the years that I have |
| to see them and not in how others might see me as | | | | applied to my business and personal life. Uh, gotta go... I |
| silly if I get too animated or show too much | | | | see Pico is again staring at me and wagging his tail... let |
| enthusiasm. | | | | me find out what he wants to teach me today. |