Meic Just Couldn’t Help Himself

Recently we had a dinner party at which my brother-in-law Paul was in attendance. He wore his best running shoes, which he was breaking in for a 10K race the next day.

Unbeknownst to Paul and to me, my dog Meic was under the table, nibbling away at Paul’s shoelaces. By the time Paul noticed something amiss, the laces of both shoes had been chewed down to the top eyelets. Not a shred was to be seen, as Meic had eaten what he had chewed off. Meic looked rather pleased with himself, at least until I began to scold him.

Early next morning Paul showed up at the sports store for new laces. He explained to the clerk what had transpired. The clerk inquired as to what kind of dog had done the deed.

“Some kind of collie, I think,” responded Paul.

“Oh yeah, a border collie” said the clerk, knowingly.

Paul was impressed by the young man’s perspicacity. “That’s exactly right! How did you know that?”

To which the clerk answered, “Border collies. That’s what they do.”

So while border collies are renowned as brilliant sheep dogs, they also suffer a reputation for obsessive-compulsive behaviour, including chewing up and ingesting pretty well anything in reach, including shoelaces and flooring. And my good Barbour jacket.

We’re all a bit like that– not necessarily sheep herding and shoelace eating, but each of us possesses a mix of blessed talent and cursed compulsions which make us unique. Some are beneficial, some not so much.

While fortunately very few of us are compelled to chew shoelaces under the dinner table, or for that matter herd sheep, each of us has weaknesses which need to be recognized and managed.

For example, blurting out the first thing that comes to mind, or not being able to say “No” to clients or partners, can only lead to grief. Bear in mind that anything which does not enhance your reputation will degrade it.

So remember that while there may be a time and a place for certain proclivities to shine through, your profession and your business are not the places to give free rein to your shoelace compulsions, whatever they may be.
Just ask Meic.