7 Success Tips from my Puppy

"If you want a friend, buy a dog." ~ Kevin O'Leary

Great advice, Mr. Wonderful! One year ago, my lovely wife and I gifted our two young boys with the present of a lifetime, an adorable 8 week old puppy! He was enthusiastically welcomed into our family and we all agreed to name him Toby. I'm sharing a few tidbits of business wisdom that my puppy has reminded me of along the way. I hope you enjoy!

To read the full version of this story, click here: 9 Valuable Puppy Tips on Success

Tip #1: Take time to sniff around before you do your business.

Toby wakes up each morning around 6 am and he begins to howl until I get out of bed and come downstairs. He starts his day by rolling over so I'll rub his tummy for a bit, then I put on his leash and he gets up and takes a great big stretch. Once outside, he lifts his head up high and sniffs the air intent on tasting whats in the breeze. Any odd sounds or movement such as a distant train or leaves blowing in the wind will instantly peak his attention. We only start to walk once he's become fully aware of our surroundings. He takes his time to get started, but then he always gets his business done, whether rain, shine or snow.

Take away: To get yourself into the zone, or to just simply WAKE UP, have a routine that helps you sense your surroundings and enter a flow state. Rather than just getting right to the point in meetings and conversations, take some time to listen to others and care about what they say. Life is not only about achieving results; it's about being present in the journey rather than functioning on auto-pilot. Remember to pause your wanting mind once in a while and just simply breathe slowly and take it all in.

Self check: Are your routines and habits truly bringing you happiness and fulfillment?

Tip #2: Always be a loyal companion to your caretakers.

If puppies learn anything quickly, it would be recognition of who truly cares for them. Dedication and devotion are a dog's second nature. Once they have a clear sense for who they can trust to regularly take care of their basic needs, such as feeding them, giving them love, taking them outside and playing with them, they will love those people forever. A loyal pup will usually have the instinct to act as your protector to the best of their ability, whether that means barking at strangers or simply sleeping comfortably by your side. To me, dogs exemplify loyalty.

?Take away: Genuine loyalty is valuable beyond measure, and must be earned through reliability. Make an effort to be the person that your dog thinks you are by appreciating those who take care of you, and consistently go above and beyond the call of duty. The strength of every bond will be tested over time. Be sure that you always do what it takes to show your gratitude and earn the trust that will keep people coming back.

Self check: Have you 'wowed' your family, boss or clients lately with exemplary service?

#3: Consistently give treats and praise to a good doggy.

A puppy will be a puppy, which means that everything in your home is potential chew toy, including you. They may be adorable and energetic however they can quickly become a relentlessly destructive force. We've learned the hard way that we need to be ever vigilant in our care and absolutely consistent in our training. As soon as we stop paying attention, Toby is quick to pull the fuzz out of our couch cushions or attempt to dig a hole in our rug. To properly train our pup to follow directions and behave appropriately, our whole family must use the same command words for specific actions. Enthusiastic words of praise followed by a tasty treat should regularly be given when a puppy exhibits a desired behavior. Accidents are bound to happen, so stay positive and patient!

Take away: Relationships can be highly volatile, and our competition is fierce and always ready to pounce, hungrily searching or any weaknesses to exploit. If we rest on our laurels then we leave our connections vulnerable to attacks. Be ever consistent in providing the same excellent service that earned you the appreciation in the first place.

Self check: Have you stopped doing the things that have brought you results? Why?

#4: C'mon, let's play! Have some furry style fun!

Puppies love to run and play, and like most dog owners, I strive to be an active playmate when I can be. I've noticed that If I don't frequently play fetch or tug-o-war with Toby's favorite blanket than he'll be more likely play tug-o-war with my furniture. There is a direct correlation between the amount of time spent fully engaged in playful activity with my pup and his destructive nature. The more Toby runs and plays, the less he chews on our nice things.

Take away: Simply having fun while you work is a great way to add value to customers, so long as it's safe, productive and not at anyone else's expense. Playfulness is a joyfully contagious attitude, especially potent when mixed with focus on achieving results. Don't make yourself easily replaceable by a robot! Enjoy telling jokes and funny stories to lighten the mood. Make it a daily habit to smile often, laugh a lot, and not take life too seriously.

Self Check: What do you enjoy about what you do for work? What aspects make it fun?

?"People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing" ~ Dale Carnegie

#5: Bury your treasures for later.

Most dogs have the instinct to dig holes, bury some of their toys or bones, and cover them up for later use. While inside our house, we'll sometimes give Toby a stick of Himalayan yak cheese, and although it sounds disgusting he gets so excited he can hardly contain himself. His stockpiling nature emerges as he immediately buries the solid block in between our couch cushions and then stands guards over it and howls like a proud wolf. Outside, in our yard, we have several holes in the grass that he's dug, I assume for the similar purpose of storing and hiding his goods for the future.

Take away: As humans, saving our money for a rainy day or investing in a 401k should be as second nature to us as burying bones is for dogs. If you aren't saving than you're stealing from your future self. Treat your savings as a regular expense, paying yourself a minimum of 10% from each hard earned paycheck before you spend it on frivolous things.

Self check: Are you saving your money on a regular basis? How long can you live off of your savings if you had to?

#6: Mark your territory, and it's all your territory.

"Even the smallest dog can lift it's leg on the tallest building' ~ Jim Hightower

How do dogs choose where to do their business? Well, there are times when the adage 'when you gotta go, you gotta go' applies. Most other times, as I've observed, dogs will first aggressively sniff out the competition, sensing other dog's unique brands of markings, and then they'll proceed to stake their claim on that very spot. It's in most male dogs' primitive nature to plant their flag on that every tree or fire hydrant they pass by writing their brand name in gold.

Take away: Be bold, think big and take massive action until you get what you desire! These days everyone has a brand and is selling something. We brand ourselves with every interaction, every word spoken, every post, picture, videos and articles we like, comment on or share on social media. Be crystal clear on who you are, what you have to offer, and what you are trying to achieve, and make sure that your actions are in line with that.

Self check: Do you consider yourself competitive? What beliefs are you willing to fight for?

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#7: Be clear on what you want and go for it, now!

My pup sees what he wants and immediately goes for it. Once his target is set, he goes straight for it, and often gets it before anyone can stop him. If that doesn't work, then he looks for an open path to his goal. My family and I regularly chase Toby around our couch in order to get something out of his mouth, and he often wins the race.

Take away: All motivational authors and speakers share one common theme; the importance of getting clear and passionate about what it is you want. Don't underestimate the importance of fixating on a singular point of interest of desire and then being as persistent, creative and energetic as necessary to seize it.

Self Check: How different would your life be if you'd never given up on any of your goals?