Goals. We all have them. Whether they be personal goals (lose 15 pounds, grow out my hair) or business goals (have a marketing plan, write more blog posts), big goals or small, attaining those goals is important. Even dogs have goals. My Rottweiler's goal is to catch a squirrel and he has been working at it for years!
My beautiful, sweet Willy.
My dog had been woefully unsuccessful at attaining his goal until yesterday. We had a busy weekend at our home with running between championship soccer games, a dance recital and a home show where my furniture was displayed. My husband was enjoying an early morning of solitude on our patio fortifying himself for the busy day when he was interrupted by the Mutual of Omaha "beast stalking prey" moment. Complete with a tussle and some primal screams, our one hundred pound sweet boy ultimately succeeded in catching his prey. My husband wrangled the dog under control and got him in the house before coming to find me. "We have a small problem. Willy got a squirrel and it's in the backyard and it's still alive." Seeing as I am generally the problem solver/fix it person/yard maintenance part of the relationship, we didn't have a problem so much as I had a problem.
Upon close inspection it was revealed that the squirrel did, in fact, survive the attack but was rendered mortally wounded. I donned some gloves and moved him to the front yard so at least the dog couldn't finish him off. It was painful to witness this poor creature suffer all day long. I checked on it several times throughout the day between activities each time hoping it would be dead and the suffering over. Not that I wanted the animal to die, I just didn't want to have to be the one to put it out of its misery.
Poor thing. I don't think he even saw it coming.
Thankfully around 9:30 pm the squirrel finally passed. After sharing a tearful moment with my sensitive 12 year old boy child who couldn't understand the horror his dog had unleashed, we buried our nut eating yard friend and gave him a peaceful sendoff.
Which brings me back to goals. Watching my beloved dog work day in and day out, in the rain, snow and heat, trying to achieve his goal of getting those squirrels is motivating for me. I recognize I am anthropomorphizing my dog and his is really primal instinct rather than a thought out plan of execution... but still. His tenacity and constant honing of his skill can be applied to my work as well. As a human with a thought process I can set my goals and even change them if needed. I can have multiple goals, short term and long term. But I can still harness that primal instinct for success and achievement. And although my existence does not depend on my marketing plan or blog posts, my business sure does.
So what are your goals?
Until the next adventure...
BJ