Sparky the Wonder Dog's 5 Keys to Achieving a Goal

The video below and picture above are of my 11-year-old Golden Retriever, Sparky, doing one of his favorite things (in fact, it’s second only to eating): diving for a tennis ball bobbing about on the surface of the water. That water could be on fire and Sparky would still jump in to save that ball no matter the fate that awaited him. And while Sparky loves me, he wouldn’t do the same thing if I were the one in the fiery liquid. I just don’t rank with that sweet, neon-fuzzed orb in his canine mind.  That ball is his everything.

I’ve watched this video a thousand times and shown it to anybody (including my coworkers here at HBX) who would humor me. I love the raw passion and commitment that comes through. Sparky is a dog possessed. It occurred to me that there is much we could learn from this video and Sparky’s singular pursuit. And while Sparky can’t talk and his lack of an opposable thumb makes it impossible for him to write on a keyboard, I know he would want his thoughts on how to successfully secure the ball to be told. So, as his proxy, I offer you below Sparky the Wonder Dog’s 5 Keys to achieving a goal:

#1 Continuously course-correct: 

Observation: If you look closely, you’ll see that Sparky is anticipating where the ball will land. He’s moving a bit to his right as my daughter begins her throwing motion but then, as the ball comes into view and hits the water, he adjusts slightly, veering almost imperceptibly to his left. 

Lesson: Have a plan of where to go, but when data tells you that you need to course-correct, do so quickly. This is relevant for any business leader but it’s perhaps most relevant for entrepreneurs. Research has shown that while passion for an idea is critical for success, keeping the same passion for the original idea when new information presents itself can be deadly. So, when the target moves, move with it. 

#2 Leap from the edge:

Observation: Sparky doesn’t jump from more than a quarter of an inch (0.6 cm for our metric friends) back from the edge of the pool. He doesn’t know exactly where the ball will land, so he plans on being as close to the water as possible, allowing him to reach farther than he otherwise might. 

Lesson: Plan for contingencies. Sparky knows that if the ball lands short, being near the edge doesn’t hurt him. But if the ball is long (as it is in this video) then ground in front of him when he makes his final leap is just wasted “runway.” This is how you should run your business and manage your life.  Do the things that won’t hurt you but give you significant advantages when things don’t happen exactly as you expect. Have cash ready to spend when opportunity arises. When budgeting, ask yourself, “What’s the worst I can envision?” and have plans for not just surviving but thriving under those circumstances. Run small experiments to leave your options open. If your worst fears aren’t realized, no biggie. But if they are, you won’t have left pavement in front of you and landed short of your goal.

#3 Be under control

Observation: If you freeze the video at about ten seconds, you’ll note that Sparky is preparing himself for entry so that when he reaches his objective, his exuberance in getting there doesn’t make him miss the mark. His back legs are splayed, as are his front paws, preparing to brake in the water. His mouth is beginning to open so that he is prepared to capture his prize. He has lain out completely, committing himself, but he knows that uncontrolled commitment will leave him empty handed (empty pawed?). 

Lesson: All too often companies plan to grow but don’t plan to grow in a controlled way. This can lead to delivery problems, quality issues, and employee in-fighting. So, like Sparky, go hard at your goals. But just as he does, get the paws out early enough to control yourself as growth accelerates. It’s always hard to slow yourself down, to not over-commit to a customer, but not doing so can be as harmful as running too fast. 

#4 Keep your head above water and finish the job

Observation: As Sparky enters the water and nabs the ball, his nose never really gets below the surface of the water, despite all the momentum he has going in. This is partly because of the observation from the previous lesson: he is braking as he enters the water. But Sparky also cranes his neck back to ensure his muzzle does not submerge. This allows him to keep oriented to his surroundings and from becoming overwhelmed upon meeting his objective. 

Lesson: Just breathe and keep your head above water as the world turns into foaming confusion and the excitement of finally “getting there” tempts you to let your guard down. So many elements of a plan have to come together if success is to be achieved. It’s always more devastating when the prize is within grasp and some detail is forgotten or ignored, turning victory into defeat. Execution matters more than the plan. Execute until the end.

#5 Come on, Sparky is a dog. He can’t come up with five lessons! His brain is too small. 

Happy fetching ….