--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hadn't yet realised that learning to be…" description: "\"I hadn't yet realised that learning to be a staff officer is something like learning to milk a cow. The novelty soon wears off, and the job becomes bur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/aubrey-newman-101406_boys_i-hadn-t-yet-realised-that-learning-to-b_1536362.jpg" --- # I hadn't yet realised that learning to be a staff officer… ![“I hadn't yet realised that learning to be a staff officer is something like learning to milk a cow. The novelty soon wears off, and the job becomes burdensome, and smelly. As a boy I learned the hard way that if you demonstrated skill at milking a cow, somebody would keep you milking one. It's the…” quote by Aubrey Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/aubrey-newman-101406_boys_i-hadn-t-yet-realised-that-learning-to-b_1536362.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/aubrey-newman-101406_boys_i-hadn-t-yet-realised-that-learning-to-b_1536362.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/aubrey-newman-101406_boys_i-hadn-t-yet-realised-that-learning-to-b_1536362.jpg) > “I hadn't yet realised that learning to be a staff officer is something like learning to milk a cow. The novelty soon wears off, and the job becomes burdensome, and smelly. As a boy I learned the hard way that if you demonstrated skill at milking a cow, somebody would keep you milking one. It's the same way being a good staff officer.” Aubrey Newman ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning to be a staff officer is like milking a cow: initially novel, then burdensome, yet mastery requires repeated effort. **In simple terms:** Staff work feels like milking a cow. Key Takeaway Persist through routine to master. Themes leadership military skill development routine discipline Mood pragmatic motivational Type Boys:0 Cows:0 Hard:1 Hard way:0 Ifs:0 Jobs:0 Military:1 Milk:0 Novelty:0 Officers:0 Realised:0 Skills:1 Smelly:0 Staff:1 Way:0 Staff Officer:1 Milking:0 Officer Like:0 Skill Milking:0 Learning Milk:0 When to use this quote - military training - career development - team management - skill workshops Key Concepts learning curves repetition mentorship adaptation Questions to Reflect On - What keeps you motivated in repetitive tasks? - How can you find meaning in routine work? A Different Perspective Monotony can cause burnout without purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Novelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelty/) [Officers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officers/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) ## Related quotes > [I actually wanted to be a police officer like my dad for the longest time, up until my sophomore year in high school when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-lindberg/i-actually-wanted-to-be-a-police-officer-like-my-dad-for-the-longest/) [Chad Lindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-lindberg/) > [“You got rid of him?” “For the moment,” Winter said. “Nothing confuses an officer like violently agreeing with him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/django-wexler/you-got-rid-of-him-for-the-moment-winter-said-nothing-confuses-an/) [Django Wexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/django-wexler/) > [Enacting the role of an investigative officer was like living my childhood dream!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-menon/enacting-the-role-of-an-investigative-officer-was-like-living-my/) [Shweta Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-menon/) > [“You've lost command when you ask your own staff officer to step up and he responds, "now is not a good time for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/you-ve-lost-command-when-you-ask-your-own-staff-officer-to-step-up/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“According to at least one general staff officer, no one ever actually ordered the invasion of Afghanistan. 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That's what milking the cow's all about!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-miller/responsible-stylish-adventuresome-sometimes-silly-comfortable-and/) Lynn Miller > [All the good ideas I ever had came to me while I was milking a cow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-wood/all-the-good-ideas-i-ever-had-came-to-me-while-i-was-milking-a-cow/) [Grant Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-wood/) ## More by Aubrey Newman > [Get up and get moving. 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