Career and Life Lessons from Harvey Dent

Harvey Dent @harveydentjohnson is our beloved rescue dog who is approximately eight years old now. An Australian Shepherd whose first family thought he was a complete failure is the most joyful, radiant soul we have ever met. August 17, 2018, is Harvey's Gotcha Day and it gets me thinking about some of the important lessons we have learned from him over the past four years.

Lesson #1: Do your research. Identify your strengths.

Harvey is a purebred Australian Shepherd. His first family purchased him from a breeder with the intention that he be a guard dog for the family. Evidently, they did not do their research on the traits of an Australian Shepherd.

While Aussies are incredibly loyal to their family and considered working dogs, they do not fit the personality of a guard dog. They are incredibly intelligent, easily trained, and love their humans so much that they are considered "velcro dogs".

This family kept him in the backyard with the hopes he would viciously attack any intruders. Instead, I'm sure Harvey happily approached any strangers with enthusiasm, which is not at all what they wanted. A bad hire.

Harvey was an epic failure in their mind. So they did their research and got a Bull Mastiff. They finally got the guard dog they wanted, but the Bull Mastiff repeatedly attacked Harvey and nearly killed him. A perfect stranger after hearing the dog attacks in the backyard begged the family to give Harvey to her. After repeated attempts, they agreed to relinquish Harvey. They kept the Bull Mastiff.

People are similar in that we all have unique interests, abilities, and strengths. Do your research to really understand what energizes you and what depletes you. The same holds true if you are hiring. Do your research to understand the person applying for the position as well as what the day-to-day work really looks like so you can see if there is a match.

Lesson #2: Just because certain people don't see your value, doesn't mean that value doesn't exist.

Harvey arrived at the animal rescue in rough shape. He was immediately transported to the veterinary office where the pictures on the left were taken. The right side of his face was completely ripped apart and needed steel wires to suture his tissue back to the jaw. The vet techs commented how loving he was despite his injuries and when touched, he would lean into the caregiver. He was full of infection, emaciated, covered in fleas, and filthy. He clearly was not valued by his first family, but that did not mean he was not valuable. After surgery, he immediately went into our care as a foster family. A diamond in the ruff. :)

Lesson #3: A supportive environment leads to greater outcomes.

When we first met Harvey, he was still recovering from the effects of anesthesia. He was quiet on the ride home. We let him explore the backyard and my husband sat on the ground with him. Harvey immediately leaned into him, licked his face and his whole body wiggled while he whimpered with happiness.

This was just the beginning of learning Harvey's personality. The pictures on the right are how he looks after being in a supportive environment. His posture evokes confidence and his smile radiates happiness. I guess you could say that we failed too, as a foster family, because we asked to adopt him the same day we met him.

The best way to describe Harvey is joyful. He smiles so much he sneezes. His body wiggles and bends with excitement when he approaches. He leaps into the air with joy when you ask him if he wants to go for a walk. At our home, he receives consistent training and even does agility. He is so well-mannered that we take him everywhere with us. He especially enjoys going out to brunch, going to the Farmer's market, and shopping in our neighborhood where the merchants treat him like royalty. He is well-adjusted and not fearful of other dogs or people. He is the biggest flirt and draws people toward us no matter where we go. It blows my mind to think that another family thought he was a complete failure. But that is the lesson in life, which leads to lesson #4.

Lesson #4: If you are not valued at work or playing to your strengths, it is time to make a change.

Navigating the world of work can be daunting. Many times fear can keep us from making choices that can lead to a more enriching and joyful life.

When clients work with Dolce Consulting, we coach you through some of the stickiest career barriers that hold you back from living your best life. We utilize personality assessments to identify your personality type and the strengths you bring to a career. We coach you through the challenging aspects of aligning your education, skills, and interests with a career path that inspires you.

Are you ready to get started with Career Coaching? Take the first step by contacting us!

Rebecca Johnson

Certified Career/Executive Coach

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