Old Dogs and New Tricks

You’ve probably seen this on the news recently, but to bring you up to date…. a ten year old Sussex spaniel named Stump just won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show.

While watching Stump’s coronation, I was reminded of my own dog, Major, with whom I grew up as a child. He was a collie – the runt of the litter – but like Stump he seemed to improve with age. By the time he was ten (and I was twelve) Major had developed debilitating arthritis in his hind legs and no longer had that youthful spring in his step. However, like Stump, he compensated with a boundless reserve of character. One day when I took him out for a walk (these were the days before leash laws) we encountered a young German shepherd who challenged Major to a fight, charging furiously and knocking him on his back. To my surprise, Major immediately righted himself, bared his well-worn teeth, and chased the young upstart into the bushes, nipping at his heels the whole way. In an instant Major was transformed from the crippled pet I’d been coddling into a fierce and proud archetype of his breed.

Now, it seems to me that our country – crippled by recession – can learn some new tricks from these two old dogs. The United States is more than 220 years old at this point (that’s about 1540 in dog years!), and during the post World War II era, we have become an increasingly coddled society, self-indulgent and inclined to excessive spending and consumerism. Challenging all of us who run businesses is a national and global economy that is in disarray. However, America has always demonstrated fierce resolve when faced with adversity; but, to fight off this recession it will take more than reserves of pride and character, it will take the learning of some new tricks like embracing renewable energy and sustainable design; rediscovering the values of frugality and hard work; and, above all, foregoing our bad habits of excessive borrowing and spending.

Just as there are no short cuts to success in business, there are no quick fixes to this recession. But, I am an optimist at heart, and I believe that our country will reemerge stronger, and hopefully a bit wiser, once the recession is behind us. Who said old dogs can’t learn new tricks?