Hollywood has created a fantasy that Dobermans are always aggressive and only want to attack your larynx, which is farthest from the truth. The dog was bred around 1890 by a tax collector in Germany looking for traits of watchfulness, determination, obedient temperament along with athletic endurance and agility. Problem is, some people train them to be Cujo. My family and I have owned numerous Dobermans and loved all of them. You could put a juicy ribeye on top of a baby and a typical dobie would gently take it, with a nod from you of course. Overall, I would have to say their best trait is loyalty.

 

Netflix has an original series called Sense 8, where a collective group of eight people around the world with very different backgrounds are somehow linked, leveraging each other's skill sets. You've got a stoic Korean woman with mad martial arts skills, a Chicago cop that's good with a gun, a diamond thief from Berlin with anger issues, a smart beautiful Indian woman, a DJ from Iceland living in London, a super hacker from San Francisco, a cheesy Mexican method actor with huge good looks and bluffing skills and a man from Nairobi with an adept driving ability who's a Jean Claude Van Damme-wannabe. The cinematography is amazing and I love how the characters reach out to each other in a moment of need. 

This got me thinking about how we rely on other people in our lives, both personally and professionally. If we can tap into those mentors, we in effect can have superpowers. Think about it, if you're giving a speech, you could channel someone you respect that gives great speeches. If the situation is confrontational, you might summon someone who handles escalating tensions with aplomb or if you're feeling less than amiable, reach out to your fight club persona. It's your call since you now have special powers to choose from at will, people you know personally or others that you've just read about.

The Tampa Bay Times ran a story, The Incredible Adventures of Chuck the Carpenter - when there's trouble, he'll save the day. The story chronicles Chuck Carbonell's real-life action hero activities that include saving someone from a burning car right before it explodes, running after a carjacker across rooftops and helping a policeman wrestle a bad guy with a gun to the ground. Dr. Samuel Oliner, who has written several books on altruism, concluding that Chuck's hero action reflex is probably a combination of self-confidence and empathy, coupled with being attuned to opportunities that present themselves.

At weddings very often you hear 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

I find it interesting that the biblical reference to love reflects more descriptions of what it's not. It's a great list to be sure, but I would highlight, "it always protects." To me loyalty is the bottom line trait that is mandatory for a successful personal relationship. In business, the younger generation has been labeled as disloyal due to their quest for fulfillment resulting in job hopping. If you're an appraisal firm owner, you should consider providing a progressive tech infused work environment with a productivity culture to attract and retain talent. It's a huge piece of mind to know that your appraisers are "in it to win it" and not sending their resumes through LinkedIn. It's not practical to expect loyalty from someone who can't give you honesty.  

Your dog is your friend, your partner. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be faithful and true to his last heartbeat. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. Look out for the people who look out for you. Loyalty is everything. If you want to experience business and personal success then tap into your inner Doberman, have determination, endurance, agility and most of all, loyalty. Who's got your back?