(A response to a great question from
- torum.com)Thanks for reading my post and submitting such a cogent comment.
As a reply to your question: "How do you reconcile the contrarian mindset with the term 'in lak'ech'"!?, I submit the following musings.
"Contrarian" doesn't mean "chronically combative". In fact, true contrarians embody the term "Live and Let Live'.
True Contrarians respect the rights of others.
Even if they disagree with someone else's point of view - and as long as no crime is being committed, Contrarians are the first to acknowledge that everyone has the right to their own beliefs and free speech.
Sure, oftentimes the actions resulting from a contrarian stance may seem adversarial, but that's not the intent.
Besides, any animosity is usually created by fearful, insecure individuals who feel threatened in one way or another.
Who knows?
Maybe they believe someone is trying to steal their rice bowl, parking space or special stapler?
Contrarians simply exercise their right to decisional self-sovereignty; that is, they choose to think for themselves, instead of blindly accepting "dogma" like lemmings happily marching off a cliff.
You are correct, my friend.
There must always be someone on both sides of a transaction for it to occur.
Sometimes it is mutually beneficial, sometimes it's not. I have experienced both instances. And it forced me to learn quickly.
Yes, all business transactions "should" be fully transparent. This is so neither party can claim foul afterwards.
But as we all know, some people are less ethical than others; getting a perverse pleasure serving as the predator in some kind of financial "wild animal hunt" fantasy.
Others habitually suffer from masochistic, self-inflicted financial wounds.
It's always a "close, but no cigar" situation with these people.
Time after time, when it looks like they're finally going to make it, they end up self-sabotaging the business and damaging the lives of those who provided support.
It's as if, deep down they felt they didn't deserve any measure of success and joy.
Strange, no?
Anyway, back on topic: "Business Ethics" - Is it an oxymoron? Lol!
There's a fine line that separates the "business savvy" from the "dishonest despot".
I don't have time for such nonsense.
All my actions are governed by this one simple, but not easy, Life Rule:
"Be kind. And if you can't, don't fu€kin make it worse!" - Dalai Lama (Obviously, severely paraphrased)
In business, I am neither a predator, nor prey. And although I strive for a win/win, many times I simply have to walk away; especially if something just doesn't feel copacetic from the get-go.
Once in a Blue Moon, I can make a boring, plain-vanilla "transactional" business event into a mutually beneficial experience that's "transformational"; where everyone feels the "magic" - that little boost of faith in humanity that was lost long ago.
When something like that happens, no one is ever quite the same again.
So now, we've come full circle.
I'm a Buddhist (albeit, not a devout one - by any means).
And, IMHO, my actions are not at odds with the spirit of the term "In lak'ech" - I am another you; (the Mayan version of "Namaste").
My favorite interpretation of "Namaste" is: "I recognize the divine in you, my friend."
Enough rambling for now.
So, please allow me to leave you with this poignant quote from T. S. Elliot's poem "Little Gidding":
“We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time.” - T.S. Eliot
May you and yours be well and love life today.
In lak'ech, JaiChai.
JaiChai 3-1-2021. Simultaneous multi-site submissions posted. All rights reserved.