My Black Bitch

Whilst our dogs both very much enjoy the run of the beach, they portray different behaviours.  Hillary and Barack are our Labradors.  Hillary the black bitch intent on a continuous hunt for anything that resembles food in whatever stage of decay and Barack the brown dog full of energy and vigour.  No particular direction but an endless desire to check out every log on the beach and leave his mark.  His male positioning.

The passion and pattern with which they go about this routine never changes.  They are creatures of habit.  One energetic and directionless the other more direct, staying closer to hand two kilometres up and two kilometres back.  From the cutting to the stream and back on Peka Peka beach.  Barack would cover at least six kilometres, probably more.

My point – whilst there exists an overarching desire to accompany us on a run and enjoy the unbridled freedom of beach, sand and sea, they each have their own agenda and motivation when free to run.  Whilst competing animals may distract, ultimately routines return and we walk back to the gate of the farm in an orderly fashion and with much less vigour than that with which we left.

Most humans are very similar.  We are creatures of habit which is why people find it hard to break entrenched ways of doing things.  It is not easy and thus most people fail when it comes to things like diet, exercise, savings, debt repayment, relationships – where change is necessary to achieve different outcomes.  Few of us have the capacity to set and maintain goals consistently especially when they are so foreign through prior lifestyle choices.  We become bound to behaviours which favour sameness and ‘security’.  Shakespeare in Macbeth said ‘Security is mortals’ chiefest enemy’.

Yet to succeed in business, one must take risks.  To succeed with investment, one must take risks.  To ‘succeed’ in life – that is to achieve ultimate fulfillment and self actualisation one must go outside the norm.  Take risks.

As things around us change so must we adapt.  Things are changing at such a rapid rate.  The problem is we often don’t know ourselves (what our own values and goals are) – we have no point of reference.  We don’t know how to enhance or orientate because we don’t know that which is most important.  Where are we at ‘with it’ – looking after ‘it’.  Doing what’s required, paying attention, a sense of perspective.

Winning teams and winning individuals know both their values and their goals.  What’s important to them (values) and what they aspire to achieve or be (their goals).  Values give you meaning and motivation to achieve your goals.  They also give you clarity so when change occurs values allow adaptation – how to maintain stability but adjust (change the game plan if necessary).

To move in step with constant change therefore we must understand our values or we will revert to old habits or be directed by someone else.  The whistle or the leash.

Our dogs value our company and we theirs – there is a bond and a mutual enjoyment, an understanding.  The beach – our exercise, our goal for fitness and exercise.  But not for that black bitch – she’s on the hunt, fish carcass, dead seagull, horse manure – anything smelly.  Her goal is to consume – in a literal and metaphoric sense not unlike Western society.  But the tidal wave of change is coming from the East and we should be ready.  To adapt but to maintain values and culture.

The information provided in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. You may seek appropriate personalised financial advice from a qualified professional to suit your individual circumstances.