Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
Actually you are far more successful teaching an old dog new tricks than a new dog new tricks. Why? Because that new dog needs to first acclimate him or herself to the new environment even before addressing the new trick. Hopefully years of experience with others has given him or her a set of skills to navigate any situation with ease and aplomb. New dogs tend to be skittish, a little hyper regarding their surroundings and sometimes just don’t have the internal wherewithal to approach a new task, let alone address it with a full cache of verve! How does this all translate? Well, it may take an old dog longer to acclimate and assimilate but, they have the overall posture to handle themselves and recover from mistakes. Their frustration level may be higher but their ability to grasp and integrate is more succinct.
How am I ascertaining all this. Well to be honest I am simultaneously in the process of training a new 8-month old puppy along with my 7-year old dog; as well as being trained in cutting-edge technology by my much younger business partner. I see many similarities in the areas of interest, adaptation, stress level, familiarity and overall acumen. Behavior is behavior is behavior.
So, although I am definitely an old dog, I can and am willing to learn new tricks. In fact I welcome them. It may take me a little longer to grasp all the nuances but i bring to the table a true desire to learn and am not falling into place merely out of need. I believe these “dog lessons” may be applied, even, dare I say, embraced business leaders. Old Dogs need to be shown the new path, however we already know how to “heel” and we do it quite well.
Value it; nurture the new tricks in an old dog and once accomplished we will keep pace with any puppy out there!
Respectfully submitted.
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