Young Dog, Old Tricks
The Field Review: TFR-054
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
That might be true. But what about the young dog who only uses old tricks?
A young dog who’s memorized the routine, and has polished it just enough to sound convincing. He knows what to say and how to say it, but hasn’t stopped to ask if it’s working.
He knows the form, but not the function. Who nods like he understands, even when he doesn’t. Who has a few tricks that he knows have worked before and now repeats them, even if they aren’t working now.
It’s one thing to be green and know it. It’s another thing to be green, but not know it.
This is the dog you have to watch.
Learning Your Tricks
Tricks are easy to come by. You pick them up from the dogs around you.
But if all you’ve been around are tired dogs who’ve stopped chasing, or loud dogs who only bark and don’t listen, well, those are the tricks you’ll start to use too. Not because you mean to. Just because you’re nearby.
A good pack can teach patience. Restraint. How to wait until the bird flushes instead of rushing in and blowing up the spot.
The only catch is, you won’t realize which pack you’re in until your instincts become your own.
The best time to learn new tricks is when you’re still rough around the edges. When you haven’t gotten slick yet. When you still ask questions and don’t feel dumb for not knowing the answer.
The young dog who has a wagging tail is the dog people invest in. The ones who show they’re still paying attention
Staying Teachable
Not every trick is worth keeping.
Some are practical like learning how speak up without speaking loudly, or how to show respect without pandering. Others are quieter like how to admit when you’re wrong, how to ask better questions, or how to take feedback without folding.
The best tricks are the ones that help you stay in the game, and make you better company while you’re in it.
In dog years, I’m hopefully a quarter-aged human. I’ve learned a few tricks. But I’ve had to unlearn a few, too.
Some were useful once or twice, but useful doesn’t mean permanent.
I’ve found myself repeating lines or ideas I’ve used before. Playing it safe, not because I think it’s right, but because I know it’ll probably work just well enough to get by this time.
This is why I’m trying not to get too proud of my tricks or rely on them too many times. I know the only thing worse than turning into an old dog, is wasting your young dog years without learning any young dog tricks.
The young dog stage of life is supposed to be a little messy because this is where the best learning happens. You might have a couple days where you smell like a skunk or find some unexpected porcupine needles in your nose, but at least you’ll have a few good stories to tell.
At some point we’ll all be old dogs.
All I know is that when I reflect on my young dog years, I want to know my tricks were earned. Not borrowed. Not copied.
They were mine.
From My Desk:
What I’m Thinking/ Doing: Enjoying a good Sunday and hopefully watching Scottie pull out another major championship win.
On Deck for Monday: I’ve got work to do as I’m sure you all do as well. But I’m hoping to pick up a few new tricks while I’m at it. Nothing too fancy. Just trying to get a little better at the things I don’t know yet.
From The Field Review Archives:
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Venture Onward,
Jack