We're well into the 2007 horse show season and
excitement is high, days are full and the tension meter
spikes to the red line limits from time to time. Your
world and your clients' worlds are extremely focused.
Tempers flare and erupt like volcanoes, criticism and
needling sarcasm slips out. And token excuses are
offered for inexcusable
Whether you are competing, coaching or viewing,
remember, as a professional horseman, you are
being watched.
You are on stage, live, with no script.
And your audience of prospects, clients and
colleagues are consciously and subconsciously
watching the action, drama and comedy offered inside
and outside the show ring. Hundreds of sets of eyes
connected to brains micro processing thousands of
snapshots per day for thousands of judgments to be
made.
Intentionally or unintentionally, you make thousands of
judgments each day. Except those of you who protest
and say, "I'm not judgmental." (Perhaps you
evaluate?)
You may have a stream of judgments that runs like
this:
"He yells at his clients, her coat sleeves are too short,
that horse looks off on his left front, the announcer is
corny, she dyes her hair the wrong color, that horse
should be mine, look at that saddle, maybe I should
switch, he got second and he's pouting, what a good
sport she is, the judge picks the same horses I do, it's
a wonder she doesn't fall off, that fruit salad looks
perfect" and on and on.
Thousands of thoughts and analysis all day. What's
the point for the professional horseman?
You never get a second chance to make a first
impression.
If your performance at a horse show or public event
was videotaped for you to see, how would you judge
yourself on the replay?
Would you hire you?
