Everything I Know About Business I Learned From My Dog (Part One)

A quiet drama plays out every day in my house. It starts with Simba, the family pet dog, lying quietly by the great room window. His head rests comfortably on the windowsill where he can stare outside keeping a watchful eye over his domain. You know something is amiss when he suddenly sits up with his ears perked, he will quickly glance over to me to make sure I am paying attention, then give me a nod to the door. His archenemy the large gray squirrel has arrived on the bird feeding tree and it is Simba’s dream to catch this varmint. The next step in this drama is crucial, Simba and I will quickly creep to the back door and I will very gently open the door. Simba will slink low to the ground and when he thinks the timing is perfect he will shoot through the door. In a great bound he will land squarely in front of the tree, the squirrel will take off like a bullet up the tree, not stopping until he is high in the tree branches where he will proceed to laugh at Simba. This drama can take place as many as twenty times in a day. Simba never tires and he never gives up. He is not without hope that he can accomplish this task because last year he actually caught the squirrel. The squirrel was on the ground and somehow got confused; Simba had him cornered between the deck and the house. Simba pounced and stepped on his tail. He looked up to make sure I was looking and that was his downfall the squirrel decided life would be better without a tail than no life at all. He took off; fortunately for him he took his tail with him. Simba walked around the house all day proud as punch.

We all have dreams and sometimes it feels that the dreams are just too big to realize. Opening a store and working through the problems that arise can sometimes make me feel that it is too tough and I think “who I am fooling”? I can’t do this. Then I watch the drama play out in my house and it makes me laugh but it also makes me remember that dreams don’t come true simply by wishing them into existence. Dreams come true because of hard work, persistence, a good plan and hope. Lots of hope…