2.019: perspectives on bulls and sheep

In his book "How to Castrate a Bull: Unexpected Lessons on Risk, Growth, and Success in Business," Dave Hitz uses his real-life experience of castrating bulls as a metaphor for the courage required to take big risks in business. If you haven't yet read it, I encourage you to do so (although I wish Dave would release it as an audiobook, hint hint).

A couple of weeks ago I ran across this TED video where Mike Rowe of the Dirty Jobs show on The Discovery Channel relates a story about his unexpected experience working as a sheep farmer. If you're a fan of the show, you know that most of the Dirty Jobs that Mike undertakes also require a healthy dose of courage – Mike's day job is essentially to live Dave's metaphor day in and day out.

But this video caught my attention because where Dave focused on the challenge of the task, Mike's focus is on his learnings from completing it.

The entire segment is about 20 minutes long, but you'll get most of the point by about the half-way point.

WARNING: while this video doesn't include actual on-the-job footage, it is quite graphic. 
If you are at all squeamish about animal husbandry, I recommend that you just skip it.

Click here if you do not see the video above

DISCLAMER: I have never used a knife on live cattle or sheep

That said, and with all due respect to Dave, I think the shepherd's job requires just a teensy bit more intestinal fortitude. Don't you?.

For your convenience, here are links to the Wikipedia pages on Anagnorisis and Paripeteia
 

This is yet another thought-provoking perspective from the storage anarchist!
 

technorati tags: Dave Hicks,How to Castrate a Bull,Mike Rowe,Dirty Jobs,The Discovery Channel,castrate a lamb,anagnorisis,paripeteia,courage,fortitude,intrepidity,NTAP,NetApp,TED

Comments

[marc farley]

There are bad titles for books and there are awful titles for books. "How to Castrate a Bull ...." has to be one of the worst titles ever. Do you think he had a part in naming Network Appliance and what would he name it now if he had another chance?

[Dave Lightman]

Agreed! Dave Hitz book is awesome. I totally wish that he'd put out an audiobook because reading is such a chore, but the content is so worth it! In fact I wrote a blog with a chapter by chapter review. http://nonstophitz.blogspot.com/