Who are you? !! Learning from Rocky!!

One of the most common phrases heard in many corporate firms are “the last one who quit the firm is responsible for all the errors and mistakes in the process.”

In one of the many TED Talks, I came across this wonderful statement, “Everybody wants a good life, but not everyone gets it!”.  & another one is more interesting; “If you don’t work towards your own dream, you will end up working for someone else’s dream.”

This article is a Learning for all working people and to the ones who want to take the giant leap towards their goal yet afraid to do that... By the end of the article, I assure you will a lot of clarity.

In a country like ours, there is so much to observe and learn and today I am trying to decode learning from the most loyal animal: The Dog!

One of my client, Anand invited me for lunch at his place as he wants to quit his corporate job where he is now a Department Head and plays a crucial role in getting revenue for the firm, he has been enjoying all the attention every quarter in the rewards function in the firm and is very proud about the same. His team consists of loyal employees who have contributed a lot to his success.

When I rang the bell, I was welcomed by the barking sound of the dog from inside and that put me under a bit tension as I have a small phobia of dogs. As Anand opened the door and the dog bark increased, he sensed my nervousness and he sent the dog in another room and welcomed me. We sat and started our discussion.

I could hear the dog bark after short intervals and slowly it stopped, as the discussion continued, I forgot about the dog until he was allowed in the living room again. My client said; don’t mind he barks when he sees a new comer.  As time passed, the dog started to behave as if he knew me and started to come closer and get my attention, he had a name: Rocky. He was treated well in the house.

He had a separate space in the house dedicated for him. He was served food on time, he was given all the comfort to stay and he looked happy. He also did tricks as per the instruction by his master and entertained the family and me as well.  He was also allowed to sit near the dining table where we had lunch and the dog was constantly doing his tricks to entertain.

After some time, we decided to take a walk in the society complex and the dog accompanied us. Rocky was tied a belt and he was taken outside and all the while, the master held the belt firmly while we walked, the street dogs started barking at Rocky and rocky barked back. The Master would hold the belt more tightly as Rocky wanted to bark and may be pick up a fight with the street dogs. Finally we came back in the house and Rocky was tied back in the room.  He looked a bit annoyed but he kept quiet as the lady offered him some milk to drink.

Things were normal again and we continued our discussion. I left and on my way back I was observing the street dogs that Rocky was barking at.  Everything seemed normal now, they weren’t barking nor they were waiting for anything, some of them were searching for food and there were a few chasing all the cars that passed by.

None of them had a name and even people who were passing by weren’t interested in talking to the street dogs.  They simply didn’t exist.

The simple question is why do we behave differently towards the same animal? & is it possible that this has something related to us?

Here is my perception & learning towards the same: I will decode some similarity between the dogs and us. To start with the first comparison: Street Dogs are a part of the Nature and the house dogs a part of Culture.

Let’s understand how we are connected to the dogs. Let’s look at the street dogs first.

The street dogs are like consultants and entrepreneurs; Independent and free to think and behave the way they want.

• Street dogs don’t have names: Entrepreneurs don’t have an employee code either. They are known by their product and vision not by anything else.
• Street dogs aren’t loyal: Entrepreneurs don’t rely on one customer alone; similar to the street dog they will constantly search for food from everywhere & if you have fed them once, they will come to offer their services again but you are not the only one they will service. 
• Once in a while, there will be a great feast: Entrepreneurs know that not every day will be the same, hence they know once in a while, they will get a deal that will give them more than most of the clients put together
• Street dogs chase cars: Entrepreneurs constantly thrive to dream big and chase what looks impossible to many. and hence when some one shares a big dream that they have, people will either laugh or criticize them
• Street Dogs are independent: Entrepreneurs have independent thoughts and they are never willing to compromise on their ability to dream big and never give up on their independence. So even when you try to make the street dog stay in your house and try to feed them, they will still go out of the house and stay on streets.
• Street dogs are a part of the Nature
• 

The tamed dogs are like employees; Loyal & obedient to their Masters. They are a part of culture.

• House Dogs have name: To be precise, an employee code. Interestingly our identity is known by a code in the firm, The core identity is lost somewhere in the process of numbers and targets & the Processes. When we meet at R & R functions, the common question we get to hear is, which process are you in?  Its like asking who is your master and who do you belong to?
• House Dogs have space in house: We have a cubicle or a desk which is ours and we are proud about it. Every thing revolves around the cubicle for us. Interestingly people decorate the space they are given. We know it doesnt belong to us yet we behave as this is permanent.
• House dogs are loyal: We tend to show our loyalty by long working hours, adhering to task beyond our self-interest and capacity
• House dogs are entertaining: this one needs no explanation, I am sure you must have seen employees who are laughing on stupid jokes of their bosses and unnecessarily licking feet just to keep their jobs secured
• House dogs are tied with belt: this observation is one of my favorite: the swipe card around the neck of the employee says it all.  Their life is always around the belt and at times you see this belted dogs in malls and cinema halls as well showcasing whom they belong to...
• House dogs have fixed schedule: One of the most innovative things ever invented to kill productivity is the attendance biometric system and many employee reach office on time only so that their salary should not be deducted and once they log in they can waste as much time as they want and they actually do! Everyone knows this schedule very well.
• House dogs don’t have independence: One of the few motivations for employees is the salary which gives them the comfort that they have a life.  A fixed Salary has killed many innovative ideas and the fear created out of not getting the fixed amount everyone has killed lakhs of entrepreneurship dreams in many. They don’t have the independence of thoughts and the decision making capacity is limited to the seniors all the time.

Similar to what happened at Anand’s place, employees do behave like Rocky, initially they will be apprehensive about any new member in team especially at their senior position but eventually they start behaving as if they like them and eventually entertain them

Which one are you? Which dog is better? Is there is way I can find comfort and independence together?

There is no answer to these questions. All of us lead one of the lives and there is no right or wrong way to live.  

It’s a choice we make but one thing that I would like to highlight is most of the times, we are tamed like Rocky, either by a manipulative senior or may be due to the insecure family.

I have had many such clients who have given up on their dreams because of others.  People tend to trust in others and don’t take the step towards the dreams that they want because they are too scared to move beyond their comfort and fear

As a coach, I speak to so many people and they want to move out of their current job or want to become entrepreneur, one lesson to remember is, it’s not about the others, it’s how you treat yourself matters more

You want to change your job out of frustration, I can assure you, you will be more frustrated at the next place you join

You want to be an entrepreneur because you are frustrated at your current work, you will not succeed as an Entrepreneur

We change jobs when we are frustrated, instead look for job change when you cannot see yourself learning and growing in the same firm.  Walk up to your Master and ask them how you can grow and how can they help, if it’s only a sugar coated talk, time to  upgrade your skill and move on..

If you want to be an Entrepreneur, the best time is now but only when you are passionate about becoming one.

Remember, this is your life and this is your decision! If you win, you can lead, if you lose, you can guide.

I would like to re quote Tai Lopez…… Everyone wants a good life but not everybody gets a good life…

and the answer to the above is always within us !!!!!!!

I would like to thank you for sparing your time and reading this article. Please leave your comments below. I would be happy to hear your feedback and suggestions on the article. You can get in touch with me @ [email protected] or call +91 8655526407