live your values

Once-upon-a-time there was a farmer who owned a horse stud, that proudly boasted all breeds except one. During a visit to the neighbouring farm she discovered her neighbour had that exact breed. She nagged and plied him with ever-increasing offers. He finally sold it to her. A month later, the horse became seriously ill. The farmer called the vet. He told her that the horse had a virus. He provided medication to be given to the horse for 3 days, promising to return on the third day. He warned that if the horse remained sick, it may be necessary to euthanize it. Meanwhile, outside in the nearby sty, the pig paid close attention to their exchange. The next day, after the farmer had given the horse medication, made it comfortable, freshened the water trough and left the stall, the pig approached the horse and said:  ‘Be strong, my noble friend. You must get up soon and graze or the vet will ensure you sleep forever!’ The next day, the farmer visited, medicated the horse, cleaned the stall, freshened the water trough and left. She felt saddened by the horse’s continued ill-health. The pig returned and told the horse: ‘Oi laddie, stir those hooves. Get ‘em up or it’s the glue factory for you! Come, we’ll do this together. Let’s go! Let’s go!’ The horse, still very weak, managed to stand briefly, then lay down again onto the straw. The pig left feeling disheartened, but resolved to persist. On the third day, the farmer and the vet visited the stall and administered the final dose of medicine. Outside the pig snuffled about in the sty. The vet examined the horse and remarked:  ‘Unfortunately, if he’s not up and grazing by tomorrow afternoon,  I’ll have to put him down. My concern is the virus may spread through the county farms and infect other horses’. After they left, the pig visited urged the horse:  ‘Listen-up pal, it’s now or never! Up you get! Easy boy, easy. Come on m’lad, on the count of three. One, two, three! There you go mate. You’re up. Steady. Easy does it. Now  ̶  trot! G’on. Through that gate, into the field!  You’re there! Yay! Champion effort!’ The farmer and vet, strolling across the drive, heads bent in discussion, heard a high-pitched squealing in the field. They glance up to see the horse, with the pig alongside, grazing in the field. The farmer excitedly ran to the fence cheering: ‘My horse is cured. Let’s celebrate   ̶  we’ll roast the pig!’  Similarly, what often happens in the workplace is the CEO or GM are ignorant as to which employees, in fact, earn and deserve the rewards of success. They’re often unaware which employees’ skills and performance contribute the infrastructure that buttresses their colleagues’ and managers’ performances. Such employees are lynchpins in delivering the outstanding results that meet corporate goals. In lean times of tight budgets and downsizing, it’s often the quiet achievers, the salt of the earth workers that are culled, retrenched and ‘offered’ redundancy  ̶  while the fast talkers, show ponies and the fat, remain untrimmed. In the course of earning our livelihoods, we hope for a level playing field. We value recognition, appreciation and meritorious access to promotion, bonuses and benefits that affirm our employability, confidence, survival and boost prosperity.  However, first and foremost there is the practice of living life by core values, walking the talk, whether or not one’s achievements are recognised, or rewarded by others. If you consciously and conscientiously deliver the best performance of which you are capable, at least 90% the time, and a colleague, manager or workplace bully attempts to denigrate you or your work performance as unprofessional or below par  ̶  remember that amateurs built the Ark and professionals built the Titanic.  Rather than strive to become a success to gain others’ approval,  acceptance and respect  ̶  be a success because you are true to yourself. That’s how to be a person of value, radiating self-respect.  Before you add value to the company, colleagues’, managers’, husband/wife/lover, parents’, children, friends’ or anyone else’s life   ̶  add value to your life, be true to yourself. Live life by your values!