Sit, Stay, Pivot: What Business Owners Can Learn from Dogs About Navigating Change

Every morning, my wife Alicia and I walk our two dogs—a Siberian Husky and an American

Eskimo/Corgi mix.

The Husky was bred to lead. He naturally wants to be at the front of each walk. He thrives on having a job to do. He's intelligent, fiercely loyal, and remarkably focused. At the same time, he's independent and stubborn enough to challenge me when he thinks he knows a better way.

Our American Eskimo/Corgi mix approaches the world differently. The Corgi side was bred to herd cattle much larger than itself. The American Eskimo side is agile, adaptable, and seems convinced she is twice her size.

Watching them together reminds me that effective teams aren't built from identical strengths. They are built from complementary strengths.

Recently, while we were walking them, I found myself thinking about business owners. The strongest leaders I've worked with share many of the same characteristics I see in our dogs: purpose, resilience, loyalty, adaptability, and commitment to the people around them.

That led me to consider three simple commands that apply equally well to dogs and business owners: Sit. Stay. Pivot.

SIT: Slow Down Before You Speed Up

Business owners are naturally action-oriented. Yet some of the best decisions come from slowing down long enough to understand what is really happening. In a world that rewards speed, there is still tremendous value in thoughtful decision-making.

STAY: Don't Abandon the Fundamentals

When uncertainty increases, it can be tempting to change everything. Yet strong customer relationships, accountability, operational discipline, and financial stewardship rarely go out of style.

PIVOT: Adapt Without Losing Direction

Markets change. Customers change. Technology changes. The strongest companies are not those that refuse to change, but those that adapt thoughtfully while staying committed to their long-term vision.

LEADERSHIP MATTERS

One of the things I've learned from owning a Husky is that leadership has very little to do with force and everything to do with trust, consistency, and confidence. Employees often respond the same way.

BOTTOM LINE

Every successful company needs leaders, organizers, problem-solvers, and people willing to adapt when circumstances change. The challenge isn't finding people who are all the same. It's helping different strengths work together toward a common goal.

Sometimes that lesson comes from the boardroom.

Sometimes it comes from a morning walk with two dogs.

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