10 Business Lessons From My Cat’s Litter Box
The ridiculousness of list posts has gotten out of control. Posts like 10 Indispensable Business Lessons From the Notorious B.I.G. We can find lessons in absolutely anything. Does that mean we should? To see, lets take a look at lessons from one of the countless unlikely places that can offer business/life lessons.
To find great guidance in business, we’ll look no further than my cat’s litter box. That’s right. The place that Bucky Kat craps each day is filled with lessons (and cat poop). Read on to find out what they are, and be sure to share your own at the end.
1) Stand Up Strong
While the cat box is made of durable plastic that will stand up to years of pooping, your work ethic needs to have a strong build too. Like the litter box, you should start by creating a good foundation. Then build up your sides or additional strengths. Make sure there’s overlap which means they’ll have a good structure to lean on when needed.
2) Shoulder Everything You Can. Then Take Some More.
Like a full litter box, it may feel like you’ve hit your limit. You may think you can’t take on anything else. Stop thinking that way. You can always do and take a bit more. Believe in yourself and take it on.
3) Don’t Worry About What Others Think About You
No one likes the litter box (except the cat when he needs to go). But that doesn’t hurt the litter box. It keeps doing what it has to do and you can too. Keep focused on the job at hand and don’t worry about what others think of you.
4) You’re Likely Going To Have To Put Up With Plenty Of Shit
Things in business don’t always go as planned. You’re going to get shit on, just like the litter box, from time to time. That’s part of being in the working world. The sooner you can recognize that thing aren’t always going to go as planned, and learn to pick and roll when things do go south, the quicker you’ll bounce back.
5) Think Outside The Box
Just because you do your job doesn’t mean that there may not be bigger and better opportunities outside your own little world. Don’t limit yourself to just your box. Consider the possibilities beyond it (and the cat poop you currently have) and pursue your dreams of them.
6) Try To Absorb Everything
Like the litter in Bucky’s box, absorb everything you can. Even if you don’t think it’s helpful or interesting, you should still try to take it all in. Down the line, you never know where the things we soak up may be beneficial.
7) Be Proud Of The Job You Do
Your job may not be the best. It may not be the most glamorous. You may get shit on all the time. But you do the best job at it you can. Don’t ever forget that and don’t ever let anyone tell you that you don’t do awesome work.
8) Even When You Have To Ask For Help, Hold Things Together Until It Arrives
Like a litter box full of cat stuff, you may find yourself overwhelmed at times. It happens to everyone (and every litter box). Like the box, keep doing everything you can to contain things until help arrives. It may not be me emptying things off your load but keeping it all together until help comes will make cleanup far easier.
9) Think About Your Effect On Others
Many tend to become so focused with their own work that we forget how it directly affects others. Like a smelly litter box, we forget that our bad moods (or unchanged litter) have an affect on the people around us. Remember that there’s more than just you and be considerate of how your own actions will affect those around you.
10) Let It All Soak It All In
Like the litter after a fresh whiz, take the time to take everything in. Don’t respond right away. Instead take what you’ve just been given and use a minute or two to think about it before giving a response. What comes out will be a lot better formed than simply letting lose the first thing that comes out.
Pondering What We Learned
So what lessons did we learn from Bucky’s litter box? Not much really. Silly “10 lessons from [insert totally random source]” generally stretch things to make find life lessons and relationships from things that aren’t the best sources of inspiration. While you should draw inspiration from many places, it might be time we stop taking business lessons from questionable sources.
Share your own life/business lesson from a random source in the comments below.
