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?