Since ya all have seen Kailee lately in my Facebook feeds, I thought I’d publish this blog post again about the lessons she taught me about the RIGHT way to use the concept of delegation.  It’ s a series of 3 blog posts, so make sure you click on the links at the end to read the whole story.  Ok, I’m Irish….I have the gift of gab, what can I say! 

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This is an article on how an experience in training my dog taught me a huge lesson in business!

Ok, I’m really, really good at some things. Parenting, coaching, speaking/training. Even pretty good at singing….but when it comes to owning a dog, I have to give myself a “B” or maybe “C+” in this area. Not that I don’t care for my sweet pooch, cuz I adore her, but truthfully, I haven’t put the time in to train her to be quite as socialized as she should be.

Maybe it’s because I’m such a fierce advocate for bold self expression that I don’t stop her from getting on the couch, sleeping in my bed, and wanting to be in everyone’s lap! Or maybe it’s that we got her as a VERY WILD rescue dog the month before my ex moved out and for that first year, let’s just say that I didn’t have the energy to put into getting her trained. Of course that’s now been over five years, but who’s counting?

The funny thing? Today I have a great trainer who comes over a few times a month and works with Kailee. (She’s fabulous if you need a referral!)

Here’s how it goes….When Susan the trainer works with her, she’s like a show dog. We have discovered that I’m the problem. (Kinda like a business.  It’s almost ALWAYS the owner that is the in the way.)

Since Kailee is so energetic, you can’t just put a leash on her and take her out. Susan has a whole process of steps which serve to show Kailee who is in charge. That’s about 10 minutes in the house, and then ten more minutes zigzagging the cul-de-sac before the walk even begins. AHHHHHHHHHH….This is where my impatient “never-mind-I’ll-just-take-her-for-a-drive” attitude comes in.

A few weeks ago I was walking K-dog with Susan and was feeling really frustrated. She wasn’t getting it, and I was not having fun. No matter what I did, she wasn’t settling down, so I was working harder and harder and getting less than good results. And then it hit me like a ton of bricks….

“This is the feeling that I used to have before I outsourced all the areas of my business that I don’t like and I’m not good at.”

In my next post, I’ll share with you the unexpected paradigm shift I experienced as a result of my experience with Kailee.  Go there to read the rest of the story.  And see if you have ever felt some of the same frustrations with business that I was with my precious pup.

Blessings,
Therese