What I’m Grateful For: Dogs, Part 2
As a lifelong cat person, the allure of dogs really mystified me. I am an introvert, and a reader, so nothing was ever more delicious than a long afternoon curled up under a tree, with a blanket and a pillow and a good, thick book to consume. Cats fit nicely into this scene, wandering by, finding a corner of the blanket, a quick bath, then purring themselves to sleep. But dogs? They would run over the blanket like a hurricane, tearing things up, dirty paws leaving twigs and mud, insisting that you play with their slimy tennis ball or chewed up bone… when all I wanted was peace and quiet and my book.
When we got Chaco as a 3 month old, he was the polar opposite of peace and quiet. He was a verifiable tornado/hurricane cross, with teeth. His ears were twice the size of his entire body and usually all you saw of him as he tore by was ears and snapping white teeth. He was a lot like the Disney character Stitch, naughty and always biting things. I wanted to give him away about a hundred million times. Some days I despaired of ever having any peace in my life again until the day I died.
But two things – no three things – became to slowly emerge from the maelstrom that was this Dutch Shepherd. The first was evident early on – this dog had feelings – a lot of feelings – SO MANY FEELINGS. Sometimes his feelings were so big that he would throw himself on the ground and scream and scream. Full on temper tantrums were common. But his feelings weren’t just straightforward. They were complex and layered. It became clear that any attention was a win. So if he was naughty, and got corrected for it, a WIN! Attention! He loved any interaction, and thought it all was a fun game with many rules. So he began to pique my interest like a complicated puzzle to solve.
He was also very, very smart. So smart, it was scary at times.
If you punished him by telling him to go to his crate, he quickly learned to go without complaint . Then he started doing naughty things and automatically putting HIMSELF in the crate, like a toddler that would do the bad thing and then spank his own hand in penance.
He also began “petting” the cats. Obviously he was not allowed to bite and chew on them, so he watched what we did. And then he started (carefully, when we weren’t really looking) testing it out. He would put his paw on the cats back or head and kinda “smoooosh” down. The cat would pancake on the floor, apparently not objecting (or just resigning to torture, hard to say.) Now he “pets” the cats daily. It’s really hard to say if they enjoy it, but the dog sure does.
Last and most importantly – he has learned (now about 20 months old) that I love to read and that curling up nicely by me when I’m reading means he gets to be on the couch. So he carefully and gingerly climbs up onto the blanket and curls up by me, quietly. We have our morning coffee and we read the news and we think about the adventures of the day together, every morning. In peace.
What I’m Reading: “Freakonomics” by Steven R. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.
This book is an oldie but a goodie. I read it when it first came out – intrigued by the back cover: “What is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? How much do parents really matter?” The premise of the book – looking at the world through the lens of an economist will give you startling insights and new ways to think about how things work – really set the stage for me to thing about business, parenting and life in general in a new way. Economic theory is such a fun and fundamentally logical and non-judgmental way to evaluate the world. This book is funny, engaging and thought provoking on every page. Highly recommended!
Tip from Gene: Why Video Testimonials are Your New Best Friend in Real Estate (Sorry Fido)
So, What’s a Video Testimonial Anyway?
Picture this: It’s like a mini-movie starring your happiest clients raving about how awesome you are. Instead of boring old text on a page, it’s a living testament to the fantastic experiences your clients have with you. Real emotions, real people, real trust.
Why Bother?
Because video testimonials are like your personal fan club, showing everyone in your community who adores working with you. It’s like having your cake and eating it, too, but in this case, the cake is your credibility 10X’ed.
Cool, But How Do I Use Them?
Let’s say you’ve just helped the Griswald Family find their Christmas dream home. Now, before they slap on a plethora of lights, you whip out your phone and say, “Hey, would you mind sharing a few words about your experience on camera?” They’re thrilled! They gush about how you were their rock star, their guiding star in the home-buying process.
Okay, Sharing Time! Here’s Where the Magic Happens:
1. Social Media: Blast that video across your Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn—you name it. Tag those happy clients (get their thumbs-up first, of course), sprinkle (lightly) some magic hashtags, and watch the likes roll in.
2. Website Stardom: Pop that video front and center on your site. Imagine all your raving fans’ video testimonials talking about you and your company.
3. Email Always: Drop that golden clip into your emails. It’s like saying, “Don’t just take my word for it—check out these real-life happy campers!””Ever wonder what finding your dream home feels like? Let the Griswald Family take you on their epic journey! [Insert video link here].”
I hope this week’s Tip on Video Testimonials has helped spark some ideas.
Quote I’m Pondering:
“Cat’s motto: No matter what you’ve done wrong, always try to make it look like the dog did it.” – Unknown
