A Countryside Encounter
As we celebrated our niece Meggie’s birthday, one of the highlights of our trip to the country was meeting their pet turkey, Drum Drum. Drum Drum is quite a character as he strutted several times with all of our attention. When they let him out to roam occasionally, he follows Meggie around like a pet dog, but if the boys are around, he will attack them. I guess it is simply jealousy or maybe revenge, as the boys might tease him in the pen.
One thing for sure: Drum Drum is a magnificent, beautiful turkey who provided us with loads of fun. CeCe was captivated by Drum Drum’s colorful feathers and took several pictures during our visit.
Reflection
As CeCe and I reflected on our visit with the pictures of Drum Drum, I couldn’t help but draw parallels between the turkey’s behavior and our tendencies from time to time. Turkeys, beautiful and proud, are often seen as easy targets due to a lack of awareness and a tendency to follow the flock without question. In modern slang, being called a “turkey” implies foolishness and gullibility.
Being seen as a turkey limits our influence and effectiveness, whether within our families or at work. You don’t have to be called a turkey to be perceived as having attributes of an unaware turkey. I have experienced both being called a turkey and exhibiting a lack of awareness too many times to count.
Avoid Being a Turkey
Self-awareness is the best way to stay out of the turkey pen. Use reflections like these to #beBetter. Seek feedback from trusted colleagues, friends and family members. You might even be as lucky as I am and have someone like CeCe who regularly provides feedback — whether invited or not. Ha! I have found that when I lead with curiosity and ask questions, I avoid blindly following the flock.
These habits or skills strengthen our critical thinking and help us make better choices. Hey, it’s easy to be led astray by superficial trends and opinions. Remember, our goal is to soar like an eagle, not waddle like a turkey. Sorry, Drum Drum.
Rest of the Story
CeCe: Who is that actress on the TV right now?
Me: I don’t know…
CeCe: We just watched her in a movie last night
Me: Seriously, I have no clue, Jennifer Lopez?
CeCe: You TURKEY, you know that is not Jennifer Lopez, you really are clueless…
“If you were to anticipate how strong a company’s culture needs to be to transform and thrive in the future, Joey Havens paints a beautiful horizon in his book Leading with Significance.” Daniel Burrus
Grab your copy of Leading with Significance to find more magnetic insights to help you on your unique journey.
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