[photo source]
Who were the Octonauts and what's the point?
Here's a quick overview. They were a crew of animals who reside in an underwater base that resembles an Octopus, called the Octopod.
In one episode an essential part of their ship got busted. The problem is, they were in the middle of the ocean. Where could they find such a part underwater?
The engineer of the crew remembers the old octopod. They could replace the damaged piece with the one in it. Without delay, the rest of the gang retraces their steps to where the old ship is. It's no surprise, it was now overgrown with coral reefs. And something is already living in it -- an octopus. The crew's arrival is not welcome. They are intruding on its home.
We could argue that the octopod belongs to the astronauts right? Who is the real intruder? Or who has rights to the ship even after it's abandoned?
I love how the captain resolves the matter. No arguments ever happened. He acknowledges the crew's mistake of trespassing and said sorry. Because of what he did, they were able to negotiate with the octopus to get the necessary part of their ship.
Admitting we are in the wrong is not easy. Pride gets in the way. Man's natural tendency is to get defensive, defending our ways to prove we are in the right and the other is not.
I started a new job end of last year. Because of the complex nature of my work, making mistakes is unavoidable. I still haven't warmed up to the idea of committing errors at work or anywhere else. Nobody does. We all want to be flawless in actions, deeds, and thoughts, but can't. That's impossible.
Logging in to work week after week is a refining process like metal purification. Admitting in front of everyone I was in the wrong involves humility and grace.
In my previous job, I was a one-man team involved in software testing. It's easy to course correct when you're the only one doing the work.
But this is not just true at work, but also in other areas of life. After all, you are who you are wherever you go. Like most, I also insist on my way. See, I is always right. Haha. Who are we kidding? And what does it cause us but division, hurt, and a plethora of negative emotions?
Whenever tempted to assert I'm in the right, I simply remind myself of the essential social skill I learned from the children's show, Octonauts -- be quick to admit my wrongs.
Humility doesn't make us less of a person. In fact, not everyone can humble themselves but only those who are secure in their identities.
And this, my friends, is how to win friends.
