Extraordinary

I have always loved hunting pheasants. When I was younger and couldn’t carry a gun, I walked by my dad’s side and carried the birds he shot. I looked forward to the day when I could finally carry a gun and hunt. My grandparents, my dad, and I would go out to Roosevelt, Utah for a couple days each year to try and find these wily roosters. I learned quickly that the best way to find these roosters was to follow your dog. Over the years I have hunted behind many German Shorthaired Pointers. Each one was different, but when they got into the field, they were all business—for they had a job to do. They weren’t always successful at finding the bird, and sometimes even when they did, we shot and missed (Mostly my brothers). Even so, our dog would move on to find the next bird without any hesitation.

It has become almost impossible to find a wild pheasant in the state of Utah. Twenty years ago, my dad, my brothers, my cousin, and I each asked our wives if we could take a once in a lifetime pheasant hunting trip to South Dakota. We heard stories and watched movies of others hunting pheasants there and it looked amazing! I recently returned from my 20th annual “once in a lifetime” hunt to South Dakota, and it was still amazing! On my return home this year, I reflected on the past years and the incredible times we have spent together, the places we’ve seen, and the people we have met. There is one thing that was true years ago that is still true today. If you want to find pheasants, you need to follow your dog.

Extraordinary – is someone who possesses exceptional qualities, abilities, or achievements that set them apart from the ordinary.

I am amazed as I watch these dogs work a field. They cover so much ground and as we walk through a field. The dog will see where the hunters are, and they work back and forth in front of us until they come across the scent of a pheasant. You learn very quickly to recognize the demeanor change in a dog when they smell a bird. Again, each dog is different but there is consistently a focus and a determination to find that bird.

Extraordinary – “is someone who possesses exceptional qualities, abilities, or achievements that set them apart from the ordinary. This can include having remarkable talents, unwavering character, resilience, and a positive impact on others.”

My dog is our family’s pet. He is an ordinary dog, that can be a pain in the butt one minute and your best friend the next. If I get my gun out or my wife asks him if he wants to go find the birds, he immediately loses his mind. At that point he will not leave my side no matter where I go. My wife thinks it’s funny. For him, he has a job to do, and he is ready to do it! Watching my ordinary dog do extraordinary things in the field has brought so much joy and fun in my life over the years. Even when I miss the bird that he worked so hard to find, he is still willing and ready to do it again and to be my best friend.

We all know people who are extraordinary or great leaders that we are willing to follow. What makes them different? Those that I have crossed paths with know why they do what they do. They also are willing to fail knowing that they will try again rather than quit. They are consistent, they don’t need public attention or all the glory. They just keep going until they figure it out. Most importantly they elevate others, not just themselves.

I heard this said the other day about our rental billing manager from a customer, “You put a little extra in the ordinary to be extraordinary.” In my 31 years at Med One I have been blessed and taught by some of these extraordinary people. I thank them for taking the time to work with me and for teaching me things to do to be successful in business and life. Every day there is an opportunity for us to be extraordinary at work, at home, and in our community.

Don’t let these opportunities pass by.