One of my favorite 'net pals is a wise old sea dog named Weatherbee. "Bee", as I call him, is a mascot on one of the oldest family run fishing boats in Newport, RI.
One day while we were marking our spots on the web, we sniffed out the old adage that old dogs have a hard time learning new tricks. Bee offered that it was because we are innately creatures of instinct and habit. "Since we have this tendency, we ought to make sure we pick out the very best habits a MBF can learn," he said, "and know that there are times when even Big Dogs with the best habits need to be Humble enough to make one more change."
He told me I ought to get my paws on Covey's Seven Habits of Effective Canines, and look up the quote I'm sharing with you today:
"Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.”
“Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out.
Lookout replied, “Steady, captain, “ which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship. We are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees.”
Back came a signal, “Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees.”
The captain said, “Send, I'm a captain, change course 20 degrees.”
“I'm a seaman second class,” came the reply. “You had better change course 20 degrees.”
By that time, the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send, I'm a battleship. Change course 20 degrees.”
Back came the flashing light, “I'm a lighthouse.”
We changed course.”1
Thanks for sharing that wisdom, Old Bee. Though I'm bigger than most dogs, even I have to watch out for trucks and buses.
WooF! - MBF Sam
1
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey, Franklin Covey Co.
One day while we were marking our spots on the web, we sniffed out the old adage that old dogs have a hard time learning new tricks. Bee offered that it was because we are innately creatures of instinct and habit. "Since we have this tendency, we ought to make sure we pick out the very best habits a MBF can learn," he said, "and know that there are times when even Big Dogs with the best habits need to be Humble enough to make one more change."
He told me I ought to get my paws on Covey's Seven Habits of Effective Canines, and look up the quote I'm sharing with you today:
"Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.”
“Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out.
Lookout replied, “Steady, captain, “ which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship. We are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees.”
Back came a signal, “Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees.”
The captain said, “Send, I'm a captain, change course 20 degrees.”
“I'm a seaman second class,” came the reply. “You had better change course 20 degrees.”
By that time, the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send, I'm a battleship. Change course 20 degrees.”
Back came the flashing light, “I'm a lighthouse.”
We changed course.”1
Thanks for sharing that wisdom, Old Bee. Though I'm bigger than most dogs, even I have to watch out for trucks and buses.
WooF! - MBF Sam
1
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey, Franklin Covey Co.
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