Truths My Father Told Me
Now picture the faithful German Shepherd or Black Labrador. They feel secure about their positions in life and as a result, don’t feel the need to bark at everything that moves.
Which dog would you rather be close to, or allow your children to play with? The one that needs to bite at ankles to get attention, or the one that gently wags the tail and invitingly leans up against you looking for a rub on the neck?
While making a lot of noise may get you noticed, being friendly will make you friends. And, in business, it’s not always what you know, but who you know that makes the difference between being recognized and being successful.
A big dog can be intimidating, but peaceful, friendly and inviting behavior earns the love of all – not just the owners.
When I look at how my father’s advice helped me in life, I see it actually helped me find my perfect mate. The girls who adored the plumage of my friends were impressed by the wrong things (and so were my peacocking friends). They were more interested in finding the outer beauty in a mate whereas my father’s words helped me look for the inner qualities that help make a healthy relationship a success.
As an added point on the subject of dogs, here are two more appropriate quotes I enjoy:
• “Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes;” and
• “If you want to run with the big dogs, you have to get off of the porch.”
“You Always Remember The Truth; A Lie Needs To Be Remembered”
Ahh, the wonderful world of business and the lies that go with it. How easy is it to tell a customer that the order was shipped? Or, a supplier that the checks are in the mail?
My dad caught me in many a lie when I was young, and it always amazed me how he did it. Maybe I was just dumb and couldn’t outsmart him, but I prefer to thank him for teaching me a valuable lesson early in life. I would not be where I am today if he had not cared for me by punishing me for lying and rewarding me for the truth.
If you plan on lying, also plan on having a tremendous memory. Because each time you tell a lie, you need to tell many more to support the first one. Then, the supporting lies need to be further supported by more lies, and it continues to multiply on and on and ….
My father would always ask me questions from different angles, and he could always catch me straying from the truth. Your customers and others in life will do the same to you, only they won’t be as forgiving as a loving father. It is better for you to develop the habit (if you don’t already have it) of always being 100-percent honest with everyone.