5 Lessons I Learned from My Cats

I love animals. Period. I'm not a dog person or a cat person; I'm a pet person. Growing up, I had a rat, a goat, a few ferrets, two dogs, and a few cats. At one time, I even had a rooster I affectionately named Mo. And no, I didn't grow up on a farm. I grew up in California. 

I feel sorry for my feline friends. Cats get a bad rap. They get accused of being useless, aloof, and even evil. Some of the best people I know (mostly men I confess), also say that they hate cats. I cannot imagine hating these animals. They can teach us a great deal about how to succeed in business, and life, if we pay attention. 

I adopted these two brothers in February, to give to my bride on Valentine's Day. These photos she sent me, inspired the following: 

1. There's always room for one more. This kitty shelf is for one cat, so we have two. The other one goes unused since the brothers prefer to share. Watching them share reminds me to make room for one more: idea, collaborator, guest, or chocolate chip cookie. OK, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea. 

2. Viewing the world back-to-back gives you a bigger view. When we look at the world only through our own eyes, we may miss something. It's good to engage people who have ideas that are different from our own. We learn new things and see things we didn't see before. Even if we don't agree with their viewpoint, we come away with a greater understanding.

3. Looking in the same direction helps you achieve the goal faster. What you can't see in this photo is the Blue Heron that just went by. In an instant, both cats focused on the same spot. Often, we need to do the same. Cy Wakeman calls this concept "Ditching the Drama." She has some astounding statistics on lost productivity caused by office drama. The source of arguments is usually self-focused, inward-looking, wanting things we do not have. When we are all looking the same direction, we focus on the goal, not ourselves. This concept should apply whether we are shoulder-to-shoulder and great friends or you tend to disagree on most things. Keep your eye on the prize!

4. Sleep helps you live life with gusto! Living with cats is never dull. They tend to do everything with enthusiasm. They play hard, jump high, devour food, and have the energy of hyperactive toddlers. How do they do it all while keeping their svelte figure? The answer is they sleep. Sometimes very little, and sometimes a great deal. When cats get tired, they don't grab a cup of coffee and push on, only to crash harder later. When cats are tired, they rest. If you are anything like me, you need to hear this. Sleep isn't laziness. Your body works hard to repair and restore itself while you catch some z's. Next time you are working on an important project and suddenly feel exhausted, try a catnap instead of coffee. 

5. Two are better than one. My two kitties perfectly illustrate a familiar saying. It goes like this:

Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their labor: 

If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

and has no one to help them up.

Also, if two lie down together, they will stay warm.

But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered, 

Two can defend themselves.

And a cord of three strands is not easily broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

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Troy is an expert business strategist who specializes in employee engagement. He is Senior Consultant of enterprise technology solutions and new client acquisition at Businessolver, the leader in technology-based empathy research and innovation. Troy is also an outspoken advocate in the fight against domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). He founded The Mission Haven and with his wife, Hilda is building the largest care community for child survivors of DMST. They have a son in college, a dog, and three cats.  

You can connect with him directly or reach him via email: tvermillion@businessolver.com