The Border Collie Chronicles Observations from (arguably) the World's Smartest Dogs; (but, without question, the bestest friends!) or, Life As We Understand It, as told from dad's shop. |
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Posted June 15, 2015 |
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Mountains and the Ocean … By Gall I’ve heard the saying, “He can’t see the
forest for the trees.” and I reckon that means that someone is so
focused on some sort of detail (and those
details don't HAVE to be related - could be "How can I finagle a
better job for my spouse, that might look less like nepotism?")
that he can’t see the big picture.
I can see how that might happen to a more worse than bad
manager … this certainly doesn't apply to Momma Roo though!
You see, recently, I was watching her, watch a hole, that a
blue lizard had run into just a couple of hours earlier, when I saw
her look around slowly and motion for me to keep still – you see,
she saw an ol’ jack easing up toward the fence … she didn’t order
the attack immediately, even though she saw it … she let that sucker
get just a little further into the place before discharging
her best athlete and rabbit getter (that'd be me) on it!
Yeah, she IS a good manager!!
Not much is gonna slip past her! I understand that some of the lesser
managers might be caught with their pants down and be surprised when
their star folks have a significant announcement that impacts the
team … really though, there shouldn’t be any reason to be surprised
though - is there? I
mean … they’re your stars … were they receiving the Aaron Rodgers
treatment?? If they
would’ve, I bet that the good ones would’ve stuck it out … Really!
Or, at a minimum, they would’ve shared with you the concerns
that they were facing and PROBABLY would’ve offered you some
suggestions for fixing (or at least mitigating!) those concerns!!
But as a blind manager, if you just take from, and crap on,
ol’ Aaron - with no respect at all for him as a person (or the team
as a whole) … you can just imagine where you’ll wind up – and then
to say that you never saw it coming!
That’s sad!! I believe that I
am a pretty valuable part of the little ol’ BC Crew on this place …
heck, after all, I am called “killer” for a reason!
Well, if you haven’t noticed, there haven’t been too many
rabbit articles in the last couple of years … WONDER WHY?!
Well, I’ll ‘splain it to you right now … listen closely, I’m
only gonna say it once … we have been in a drought!
And there just aren’t many rabbits around anymore … even down
at our favorite neighbor to the south’s place!
Yeah, pickins sure have gotten slim!
I, as the star BC on this place, have options … I thought
them over … really, I did!
But, since I am treated REALLY WELL around here (I’ll even
bet that Aaron is a little jealous), and, by nature, I have a real
tendency to ride for the brand[i]
– I mean, I do have nearly 38 years on this place (that’d be in dog
years, or dad beers (on a good
weekend!)!)!!
Anyway, I didn’t even have to really discuss my concerns with
my immediate supervisor; however, she actually came to me!
She was observant and noted my concern and restlessness.
She couldn’t really offer me anything in addition to what I
was already receiving with respect to compensation (and I fully
respect the position that she was in), but I really appreciated that
she did not insult my intelligence by offering me stuff that there
was no way in heck that she could ever deliver (and if she
could have, she already
should have!!)!
Rather, she did AGAIN express her support and praise for my
performance (as she ALWAYS has)
and committed to pass my concerns on up the chain. Well, dad called me over during one of our
slow, down times … I was hesitant – didn’t want one of “those” talks
… but it all turned out real good!
Dad explained, “We know that the pickins aren’t all that
great right now … but we are still keeping you on the ‘spensive food
(EDITORS NOTE:
Actually all of us are … even the porch holder downer!),
your ‘pay and benefits’ haven’t been decreased, and you’ll continue
to get a real raise again
this year. We’re happy
and more than willing to do this because we know, that at some
point, those ol’ rabbits are gonna come springing out from all of
the corners, and, further, we KNOW that we will need someone of your
caliber to help keep everything in check while training on the less
experienced and picking up the slack on the differently abled
members of our team.” DANG!!
I REALLY appreciated that!!
You know, it doesn’t take all that much to keep me around
this ol’ place anyway! I
know that I am trusted, respected, and appreciated … that, right
there, goes a long way!!
You can keep the raise[ii],
just a sincere communication like this every so often means so much
more than money! REALLY
– it does!!! Yeah, I reckon that some folks just can’t
see the mountains for the ocean … That,
REALLY IS, sad! Keep on, keeping on - my friends!!!!
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Some Additional Thoughts To Leave You With … |
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Your best shot at happiness, self-worth
and personal satisfaction - the things that constitute real success
- is not in earning as much as you can but in performing as well as
you can something that you consider worthwhile.
William Raspberry
There needs to be bolder thinking, ...
on how to measure the quality of life of men and women in the work
force. Currently, success is
measured by material advancements. We
need to readjust the definition of success to account for time
outside of work and satisfaction of life, not just the
dollars-and-cents bottom line.
Betty Friedan
The real satisfaction which praise can afford, is when what is
repeated aloud agrees with the whispers of conscience, by showing us
that we have not endeavored to deserve well in vain.
Johnson
See, that's all you're thinking about,
is winning. You're confirming
your sense of self-worth through outward reward instead of through
inner appreciation.
Barbara Hall
Appreciation can make a day, even change
a life. Your willingness to
put it into words is all that is necessary.
Margaret Cousins
I know, indeed, of nothing more subtly satisfying and cheering
than a knowledge of the real good will and appreciation of others.
Such happiness does not come
with money, nor does it flow from fine physical state. It cannot be
brought. But it is the
keenest joy, after all; and the toiler's truest and best reward.
William Dean
Howells
[i]
“Riding for the Brand” was the
code of the Wild West. According
to famed Western writer Louis L’Amour, the expression meant
“loyalty to a man’s employer or the particular outfit he
rode for.” Today,
most people think of a brand as a recognizable symbol burned
onto the backsides of cattle.
But in the Wild West, the actual expression of the
brand was much more than just a mark to determine ownership
of livestock. It was
a symbol for those who lived and worked on the ranch—a
visual representation of the values and principles they
believed in. For
further reference and insight, please refer back to
THIS previous article.
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