ASHES

(Posted from a previous Keys to Leadership)

Leaders at all levels on two or four legs

You may be interested to know that Ashes was recertified recently and brought home a trophy for 3rd place competing against 16 police dogs. What a great tribute to Investigator Troy Long and Ashes. The nice thing about Ashes is that she is fun and won’t bite your head off on command, as opposed to the police canines.

Leadership can be found in many places in this department and should be recognized periodically. I really haven’t written any thing about Troy’s dedication and the bond he shares with Ashes.

When Ashes is walking alongside Troy, she is constantly looking up at him. watching and waiting for some direction or change in Troy’s gait. Ashes is always welcome in my office, but she only stays briefly and returns to the corridor to see where Troy is. What a great asset to have around the office. Always inquisitive. Always happy. Give her a pat – she is on her way.

Cesar Milan wrote a great book a few years ago titled, “Cesar’s Way.” I learned a lot from this book. Not only about dogs and how they see the world. But, about people, too. Case in point: Cesar says that dogs live in the moment. They don’t think about the future nor the past. That’s why disciplining a dog hours after an incident of bad behavior has little impact on correcting the behavior because the dog thinks they are being disciplined for that moment not the incident from hours previous. How often I think that people, me included, would be much better off if we had a little more “in the moment” slant on life.

I’ll make an admission to you. I have come to realize the importance of being in the moment. Honestly, there are a lot of times I wish I could have been more in the moment with people who love me and those I work around. Too often we all let fears from the past or anxiety about the future rob us of living life in real time - too consumed with what HAS happened and what MAY NEVER happen. Either way, it’s a waste of time.

Real leadership involves some risk, such as, a risk in getting a dog and not knowing if you can be successful as a trainer and make the dog successful. A risk that nets several appreciative comments if you’re successful, but will generate a life time of needling if your not. But, I would say a risk never taken is also the denial of a reward beyond measure.

I had an “in the moment” time the other night. Linda and I had dinner with two other couples and sat around the kitchen table and talked about adventures, happenings, and the oddities that we all seem to stumble upon in life. Time flew by and I can say without hesitation that “good food, good drinks, and good friends” will put you in the moment.

 One last in the moment. Last week I walked in the back of the station and Tony Ivey was standing there in front of 12 or so pre-schoolers. All the kids had the red plastic fire helmets on and the excitement was palpable. To those little kids Tony must have looked like “Man Mountain” himself. I have always felt that we are never more heroic than in the eyes of a child. When I asked them where they got the helmets, they pointed at Tony. I walked away with a smile and a heart full of gratitude to each and every one of you who help make the fire station visits memorable.

One more thing from Cesar. Dogs use constant energy to communicate. Energy is what Cesar calls beingness; it is who and what you are in every moment. Dogs don’t know each other by name, but by the energy they project and the activities they share. People share this, too. There is energy in real leaders. They seem to radiate energy. Do you?

 We can learn a lot from Ashes. She is a great dog – just like her handler.