First, we think we can own each other.  Then, we think we own the planet.  Next, we think we know how the universe was created.  And finally, the coup-de-grace, we think we know how mankind was created.  Seriously, are we that arrogant?  Ironically, Conservatives & Bible altruists are often the worst kind of arrogant.  They think they know what God means!  (seriously?)  Yep.

The most liberal magazine I read is Scientific American.  WOW, do they hate creationism.  They also believe very strongly in global warming, anti-gun law, and science in general.  That’s all fine and good, but what frustrates me is their arrogance.  They deny the possibility that they don’t know the answer.  They treat hypothesis and thesis as fact.  They present data as though it proves any point.  This magazine is the perfect example of “scientific arrogance”… prove what you can prove, not what you believe.

Worse than the liberals are the conservatives.  It stupefies me that conservatives actually think they know what God means when he says 7 days.  They discount certain scientific facts for “their interpretation” of what they’ve read in the Bible.  The idea that God could wield his power in such a way as to make a day 1Trillion years is somehow incomprehensible?  That God’s creation of mankind might have been done “through” animals (which also came from dust) unfounded?  Even if you take every word of the Bible as fact, there is so much left UNSAID BY GOD and so much BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING that there is PLENTY of room for science.

So, what does this have to do with business?  Nothing and Everything.

When thinking about “context” of the world in which we live, we have to realize that people are “POLARIZED”.  Most people flock to Creationism or un-yield in their belief of Evolution-ism.  It is rare for the person to accept both into their belief system.

In business, make products that “Polarize”… and don’t be afraid of it.  Realize that you can’t please everybody (most people aren’t wired that way!).

You’ll have a “hit” when you please one group, and make the other group hate you.

1. If you have unexpected visitors to your home, would you feed them anything you have in your cupboard?  +1
2. If you have a bag of apples and you see a beggar on the street, will you try give him one? (side-note, they probably won’t accept it) +1
3. If you have a tasty treat (your favorite), do you always offer to share it? +1
4. At work, do you share credit for everything good that happens (even when you did most of the work)? +2
5. At work, do you think of competition as “the enemy”? -2
6. At work, are you happy when the competition comes out with a “hit”? +2
7. At work, do you feel good when your peers get promoted or rewarded? +2
8. Do you believe there is NOT enough food in the world to feed everyone? -5

Sometimes things go wrong.  It is inevitable.  Sales tank, launch fails, something breaks, something does not happen that you hoped it would…  The problems REALLY compound when we let it “de-motivate” us and send us into a tailspin.  How then do you keep your head up when the chips are down?  I have an answer, and it may surprise you: Give up.

Or rather, consider giving up.

This idea is based on Principle AND Logic, here is how it works:

1. Construct a NET PRESENT VALUE of the current opportunity.  (NPV = the time weighted value of future cash flows… in essence, how good is the opportunity from today->on)?
2. Imagine giving up on the current opportunity, and what you COULD be doing instead…. then calculate the NPV of that.
3. Be sure to weight NPV according to risk.
4. Compare the NPV of Giving up, with the NPV of Continuing.
5. Which is higher?
6. Now, Give up, or don’t….  if you decide NOT to give up, you’ll have a good reason why!

Character & values (principles) are old fashioned.  Even modern day self help books (some that I love, including The 7 Habits of highly effective people) barely touch on the subject.  They say it is lacking, but cannot name the principles & values and what they are… let alone how to improve them.  What is equally missing is any true role models of values who not only live by their values and do business by them, but also who have been successful beyond measure.  One such character in history has done so, and his great example is more than inspiring: Benjamin Franklin, whose amazing autobiography lays out not only a definition of the values and character that are essential to success, but how to improve them and succeed at business along the way!

Here are his 13 values (from his Autobiography)

1. TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. MODERATION. Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
11.TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
13. HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.