Have you ever been around someone whose attitude is always negative or whiny?
This is especially frustrating when they are part of your crew. You know the type of person and how they act… When you see them in the morning and say, “Good morning, how are you?” their response is usually something negative like, “I don’t feel good” or “I can’t believe we have to do that today!” If it’s not talking about the way they feel or what they have to do, they really like to talk about wanting to make more money.
This type of crew can bring down the morale of the whole boat by whining because the boss wants to go grouper fishing and they wanted to go marlin fishing. By pouting all day, day in and all day out, this type of crew are called crybabies. I’m sure most of you have had at least one of these types of people on your deck at one time or another.
In our business attitude is everything. If you wake up in the morning and don’t feel well, or your stomach hurts, or your headaches – just fake it. No one cares what’s ailing you or how much money you make. If you work on a charter boat people spend money to have a good time. Fishing may be slow, but a crew with a good attitude can compensate for the slow fishing. Tell a good fish story or a joke or two. Have pleasant conversation with the guests, and in return, their trip will be more enjoyable and so will yours.
When the boss comes on board, the crew should go out of their way to make things as pleasant as possible with an upbeat attitude. Sure, the boss can make a few suggestions that you may not agree with, but it’s his boat. So just clap and smile.
For you whiners out there, go ahead and wear your cry baby hat at home, but take it off before you get out of your truck (or Prius – crybabies might as well all drive Priuses) at the dock. Your charter doesn’t want to hear or see it, your Boss certainly doesn’t, and if you’re going to the marina all day, the crews on the other boats don’t want to tiptoe around any crybabies either! So, for all you whiners – get over it or you won’t last long in this business.
It’s been proven that happy is healthy. The scriptures tell us in Proverbs that a merry heart is good like a medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. It’s a choice, so choose health and be happy!
– That’s my two-minute warning. Fraz
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