When we first got our dog Nutmeg, we worked hard to train her with lots of reinforcing treats. I think at some point though, the tables turned, and she’s been training us! 
If she bumps my arm, I’ll scratch her behind her ears. It’s a subtle reward, the way she leans in for the scratch. Even Don has been trained to add water to her dog food; she eats it so much more quickly.
Isn’t it funny how easily we can be trained without even realizing it?
Do you have any bad habits that are training you? Procrastinating, but then nailing the presentation. Gossiping, and everyone pays attention to you. Cutting a corner and lowering standards, but still making a sale. The positive results serve as reinforcement, a subtle message to keep repeating that behavior.
How can you turn the tables?
How can you make your GOOD habits train you? Delegation frees up time; organization makes it easier to get things done. Usually these types of “rewards” are hardly noticed. Pause and make time to notice and celebrate the positive results so that you’ll want to repeat the actions. Be as deliberate about the rewards as you would be with a puppy.
Don’t let the dog train you! What good habit do you want to develop?
