It was early morning. The fog was silently lifting up and over the chimney tops. So far not a creature was stirring. Not even a mouse.
Except for my cat Wolf. And me. On our early morning walk. Which today was an endless repetition of “Come here!”, “NO!” and “Stop!” It was official.
Wolf and I were having problems. Normally he loved walking with me and was exceptionally obedient for a cat not on a lead. But for the last week he was grumpy, hissed at me often and was deaf to my instructions.
The moment we’d start, he’d streak away, jump over someone’s fence and disappear. Only to reappear when his was good and ready ages later. He was unmanageable, unpredictable and hissy. And I’d started dreading our walks.
So as I watched his bum disappear over a fence yet again it got me thinking. I had to change tactics. And it was then I realised I was treating our walk as a military manoeuvre.
I expected Wolf to march at heel at a brisk trot around the block, to my time and my pace with no stops.
No wonder he was hissy, I’d be hissy too. He needed to have fun. And be a cat. Not a human. To stop and smell things, roll in the gravel, investigate hedges, and stop for pats and treats.
So I began to let him. I no longer impatiently tapped my heels and thought ‘hurry up we’re wasting time’. I slowed down so we could smell the roses. And Wolf’s transformation was immediate.
He stopped hissing, he came when called, he walked close to heel and he stopped jumping over fences and disappearing. We’d walk blocks and blocks without him being on a lead. And he became the talk of the neighbourhood.
People approached me. “Such a delightful, well-trained cat” they said. “How did you achieve it?” they asked.
The secret?
When things aren’t working, change tactic. Just like in business really. If the things you’re doing to achieve your goals aren’t working, change tactic. Because Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity is “doing the same things and expecting different results”.
So if you want someone to help you change tactics to achieve your goals Kathryn, with doable actions so you achieve them faster, then book your Pick my Brain 30-minute Skype call here.
Fair warning, I can only schedule 1 more call over the next week, so if you want it, you best book quick.
Kathryn Reid is a veterinary marketing consultant and copywriter who helps practice owners and managers grow their practice, help more animals and generally be awesome. Want marketing ideas? Get 45 for free here.
