By Heather Baker
My Labrador Devon is by far the finest employee I have ever had. I say this to praise my dog, not criticize my staff. At my company, we have assembled a formidable, award-winning team of integrated marketing and video experts. They're all great at their jobs, but none have sleek black fur and nearly all are bad at Frisbee.
Some of the reasons that Devon is the best can be attributed to dogs in general. Loyalty, for example; you can always count on dogs (the dog known as Greyfriars Bobby turned up to his master's grave every day for years). Devon is warm, affectionate, and protective, all traits I really appreciate. I love my cat to death, but the only thing I can depend on him for is to be there when I open a can of Whiskas.
My other reasons have more to do with Devon specifically, and how she's changed the way I approach business and life in general. The following lessons should be instructive for other owners of small and midsize businesses, not to mention also serve as an objective, scientific argument for why my Labrador is the greatest dog that ever lived.
1. Don't forget to stay active
Offices are sedentary environments. There's no getting around the fact that typing and calling don't do much to get your heart going. Despite the limited physical effort involved, office work can also be quite tiring; motivating yourself to exercise is way harder than actual exercise. As CEO, my job is admittedly more dynamic and mobile than most, but on its own it's still not great cardio.
With a dog, exercise isn't motivation-it's obligation. Devon requires regular outings, so I have to resist the siren song of the 7.30 a.m. lie-in and keep active on a daily basis. We start every day with a morning constitutional in Regent's Park, where we play Frisbee, fetch, and many other canine classics. The fresh air and the physical activity help clear my head, providing me with the energy and focus I need to effectively run my business.
2. Understand the value of rest
Appropriately, Devon also knows when to chill out, which is something nearly every busy professional has trouble with. My schedule is often packed, and getting everything done can take an inhuman amount of effort. Regularly working until 10 p.m. isn't good for anyone, and I'm no exception.
Thankfully, if there's one thing Devon understands, it's the value of rest. Do I sometimes wish she'd understand it somewhere else-maybe somewhere that isn't right in front of the door? Sure. But she also reminds me that I'm no good to anyone if I'm in the middle of a strung-out, red-eyed, work-induced fugue state.
A great CEO works hard when she has to-but she also knows when to stop.
3. Clean up messes (even when they're not yours)
Dog ownership has changed my life for the better, but while it's often fun, it's seldom glamorous. They are fantastic creatures but they have exceptionally poor judgment. For example, a Pomeranian will think nothing of picking a fight with a Rottweiler. But the worst decisions dogs make generally relate to food. They eat chocolate, even though it kills them. They eat discarded kebabs. Heck, they'll even eat another dog's “output.” We're talking zero discernment.
Anyway, the consequence of such an, uh, eclectic diet is that dogs vomit-frequently at the most inconvenient moment. As a result, you have to develop a strong stomach and deal with it. It's your animal, and you can't really leave such a mess out in the open.
Grim as the process of scrubbing and bagging can be, however, it does serve as a useful metaphor for business leadership. Sometimes you'll be faced with an ugly situation that you didn't cause, and it'll be on you to get rid of the mess. When this happens, you can cry about it, gnash your teeth, scream to the heavens about how it's unfair, and curse your circumstances-or you can put on the rubber gloves, grab the cleaner, and get scrubbing.
4. Employees like being listened to
Devon's single largest contribution to the office environment may be her effect on morale. Staff members are just plain happier for having her around, and it's easy to see why. It's impossible to stay angry or stressed when you're playing with a dog. They like you even when you're being a jerk, and even when you don't particularly like yourself.
They're also terrific listeners. The value of a sympathetic ear in a busy workplace is tough to exaggerate; with this in mind, I think Devon has set an excellent example for her human colleagues. Everyone understands how important it is to simply be heard-and everyone makes time for everyone else.
5. Dreams are worth chasing
If a person is relentlessly pursued, they're being “hounded.” If a person is grimly determined, they're “dogged.” We equate these animals with persistence for good reason: their life goals may be strange, but they are very dedicated to them.
When Devon sees a squirrel in the park, she is apt to abandon whatever activity we're doing to catch it. In this murderous quest, I see much to abhor-but also much to admire. We both know she has little chance of success. Squirrels are fast, wily animals, and if she did catch one, she would be very confused about what to do with it. But still she strives forward, never giving up, never succumbing to doubt; the impossible dream is always well within reach.
Daily life as a small business owner can be full of frustrations and false starts. When I'm wracked with uncertainty and hesitation, Devon reminds me that the first step towards achieving my lofty business goals is to always behave as though I can achieve them.
Devon photo courtesy of Heather Baker
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