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I'm not here to preach dogma, only to try and articulate how we learn the differences between the two. Perhaps the most influential philosophy in this regards is "The Golden Rule" whereby we are admonished to "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." This is a fundamental part of modern human rights and a philosophy embraced by all religions. Yet, it is something we have moved away from in recent times as people have become more self-centered due to socioeconomic influences; e.g., greed and competition. In the corporate world, for example, there is more of an inclination to establish "Win-Lose" relationships as opposed to "Win-Win," as professed by the late quality assurance consultant W. Edwards Deming. Under "Win-Lose," in order for one party to succeed, another party must fail. Deming challenged this rationale and questioned what is wrong with establishing "Win-Win" relationships whereby both parties succeed. He often cited the story of the project to make NYLON, the well known synthetic polymer, which was developed by two groups working in cooperation, one from New York (NY) and another from London (LON), hence the name. Joining forces, was simply the right thing to do. Pursuant to Deming's work, I have learned that the only type of business deal to enter into is a situation where both parties benefit, not just one. If one party prospers at the expense of the other, it is simply not worth it. Consequently, integrity and trust are key elements for "Win-Win," two important socialization skills that seem to be diminishing. There is nothing wrong with tough negotiations, but when a deal is struck, you must have confidence that the other party if going to uphold their end of the bargain. Doing the right thing is not always easy; in fact, it can be rather painful which is one reason why some people avoid it and take the most expeditious way out. For example, people would rather find a loophole than pay a creditor what is rightfully due them. Doing what is right isn't always profitable either, as we discovered when we made the decision to move our business from Cincinnati, Ohio to the Tampa Bay area of Florida. At the time, we had several employees and when we finally made the decision to move the company, we offered them two choices, either we would help them find a new job locally or pay their relocation expenses to Florida. Keep in mind, we were not required to do either, but felt it was the right thing to do. Economically, it would have been cheaper to terminate everyone and recruit new personnel in Florida, but this was not the route we took. From this perspective, doing "right" means accommodating others, not just yourself. Doing what is right requires moral fiber which comes from learned behavior. In the absence of parenting and formal teachings, it is learned through the social mores of the people we come in contact with, regardless if they are positive or negative role models. In other words, in order to adapt to a social group, be it a vicious gang or a Cub Scout pack, we will gravitate towards and emulate those we perceive as confident leaders or those with particular talents we admire, hence the need for positive role models. This also means the media has a moral responsibility to our culture. If they depict unsavory characters with questionable moral integrity in a favorable light, the actions of these characters will be envied and emulated. Yes, life can definitely imitate art. So, is doing the right thing "right" for you? That depends on your perceptions and priorities. Understand this though, doing what is right is more than just adhering to the legal laws of the land. It's also a matter of adhering to the moral values you have personally adopted. Now for the big question, how does your morality compare to what society expects; is it better, worse, or nothing more than the status quo? Hopefully, it is better. Doing "right" requires perseverance and an intolerance for what is "wrong." Bottom line, can you look yourself in the mirror with any regrets? Keep the Faith! Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies. Copyright © 2010 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved. NEXT UP: "VONAGE WORLD MOBILE - VoIP TO GO" - slick portable telephone service over the Internet.
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As we grow up, we are taught the difference between right and wrong. Even in the absence
of effective parenting, a growing problem in this day and age, children look to schools,
their religious institutions, their clubs and peers, and the media for answers. Teachers
are typically overburdened, attendance at church has diminished to approximately 40% of the
populace, the media is more inclined to promote sex and violence as opposed to morality, and
there is a steady resurgence of juvenile gang related problems in recent years. It's not
until we are older, and more mature, when the difference is made clear to us. Even then,
it remains fuzzy to some of us.
FEEDBACK
A C.J. of Tennessee wrote... "Tim, doing the right thing thing Is the only honest way." An M.H. of Palm Harbor, Florida wrote... "Thank you! I preach this in my workshops. It is important to have morality in place by age 7 or it will NEVER be there. It's all in the early year interactions. The other day I was thinking about this as it becomes more and more evident that people are just not 'taught' social mores anymore. The simple things like stay to the right when walking in public areas, walk around people in conversation. I know these are not as serious as the more in-depth examples you wrote of, but these are the beginnings. Respect yourself; respect others. Keep talking, Tim!"
THE DIGITAL PANDEMIC (Book Review) - March 17th An A.M. of Switzerland wrote... "I'm glad someone else noticed it. As I recently tried to explain to a friend of mine, who was particularly overexcited about the 'augmented reality,' we are totally losing our humanity, social skills being the first to go. But also the inability for people my age (36) to remember a shopping list without an iPhone is an alarm signal. I'll definitely consider buying the book, thanks for the recommendation." A B.E. of Liverpool, United Kingdom wrote... "It looks a very interesting book, and I am certain that as we see more techno-kids growing up we shall reap what we sow. I have just popped out into town to buy a few things and grab a coffee. As I walked back in the early Spring sunshine I noticed a youth plugged into his iPod (telltale white wires leading into his ears) we crossed path and I could make out the 'tinny' sound from his ear plugs. He looked the epitome of the 'sickly youth,' tall, gangly and fashionable dressed. As he crossed the road a car approached at a normal speed, you could see a potential collision. The car 'barped,' the youth took no notice. The car 'barped' again and not until it brushed his legs did the young man even acknowledge the car - then just carried on as if nothing had happened! A less patient driver and he could have been wiped out. My guess is that his music was so loud he did not hear anything. In some ways that small scene backs up what Tim has explored here." A C.A. of Buffalo, New York wrote... "Very interesting, Tim. I never bought video games for my kids when they were little...well they still are little...but my oldest son (9) saved all his money last year so he could buy a hand held game system. He played it for about a month and lost interest. My oldest (13) has an iPod that she can play games on and again, she was gung-ho in the beginning and it has now fizzled out. My youngest (two) would rather be outside or playing house, and yes...even reading! I'm not against video games, but I watch my nephew zone out and always think it can't be good for him. We were going to invest in a family gaming system until we borrowed my parent's system. My kids played for about a week and one nice day, they were outside forgetting all about the game. We gave it back to my parents and the kids didn't even know it was gone until two weeks later. OMG...I'm sorry, I should have just written my own article! ha The long and short, in my opinion as with everything else in life, used in moderation, video games can be fun when other forms of entertainment are not an option." A D.T. of Raleigh, North Carolina wrote... "Not casting stones, just observing: When you are out and about and you see parents with young children in the back seats, are they watching DVDs in the vehicle, even for short trips to the supermarket perhaps? When observing children with their parents in public places, e.g., shopping centers, restaurants, etc., are the kids fixated with their PSPs or cell phones? Not many years ago, the digi-crack de jour was the ubiquitous gameboy. My wife and I went out to eat a while back and a young couple arrived in a nearby table with their baby (about nine months old maybe). The father proceeded to dutifully attach the cantilevered seat to the table, set up the place mat, baby food, sippy-cup, etc. The child was fussy and didn't want to eat, just wanted to be held; out came the portable DVD player and an unnatural calm washed over the kid, you could see the zombie-effect creeping in as the parents ignored the baby and enjoyed their dinner. I don't know their situation, perhaps they are stellar parents and they just needed a 'date night.' The detached stare of the child was chilling, the mom couldn't even feed the baby, he would push her away to get a better view of the screen. My instincts tell me that kids are just gravitating to where they can get attention and solicit a simple reward mechanism for their efforts. It's a slippery slope, and the more they do it, the less they relate to real people." A B.T. of Denver, Colorado wrote... "You can also argue that television has had the same sort of impact on society, especially when you look at the statistics for average daily viewing; click HERE." A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote... "I can remember when predictions were made that television viewing would increase crime and impair social skills. I'd say both of those things have happened and are partially due to TV. The video games and computer communications seem even more of a threat to children. We've all seen evidence of an overweight generation due to video games instead of stoop tag in the back yard. It's the responsibility of parents to disconnect the electronics and send the kids outdoors."
THE AMERICAN CHARACTER - March 15th A J.T. of Dunedin, Florida wrote... "Well said, Tim. We'll see soon if our representatives will vote with their constituency." A D.S. of Hudson Falls, New York wrote... "Our forefathers would roll over in their graves knowing how far this country has moved away from the reasons for wanting freedom from tyranny. The plan works so well....." A V.D. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania wrote... "Extremely interesting article, I liked this paragraph: 'Arnold Toynbee has pointed out that 19 of 21 civilizations have died from within and not from without. There were no bands playing and flags waving when these civilizations decayed. It happened slowly, in the quiet and the dark when no one was aware.' I must add that military overstretch and over-extension are extremely dangerous. And waging war on wrong assumptions is also very dangerous and conductive to decline and decay." A J.S. of Palm Harbor, Florida wrote... "Good article. I scares me when I begin to agree with you but thankfully it was not complete. It would be a wonderful topic for a group of concerned, intelligent and open minded people to get together and discuss with civility." A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote... "I'm sad to say that this is spot on, Tim. I, too, know that we can do better for our country and its citizens. Our elected officials are powered by greed and we've suffered more of that than we should have. It's time to elect better people who are conscientious, moral and sincere. It's demoralizing to be always feeling embarrassed over the antics of our leaders. Apathy is our worst enemy and there is far too much of it. We need to grow spines and stand up to those who walk over our rights."
THE ASSHOLEMETER - March 12th A C.M. of Palm Hatbor, Florida wrote... "Can you make one that works from your cell phone? 'There's an app for that.'" A C.A. of Buffalo, New York wrote... "Great!!! How about a cell phone or and iPod app? Adaptable for home, the car and on your person. Hmm. I'd give one as a gift to the poor girls that work at my post office. I've been there two days in a row, in line right behind an asshole. They have more patience than I do and I have four little kids!" A J.S. of Palm Harbor, Florida wrote... "Tim, Your article on your newly created and patented detector was one of your best. Please put me down for one when you get them into production. I do have one worrisome consideration before I buy one. Do they work in mirrors?" An E.A. of Midland, Michigan wrote... "Tim - Would love to have your list of HSA characteristics. Since I don't have one of your meters yet I will need to do it manually so the list would come in handy!" A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote... "Sounds like a great idea to me. While the most flagrant offenders are readily identifiable, the stealth options of this device would be valuable for tagging those who fly under normal radar." A J.R. of Okanogan, Washington wrote... "Fantastic, I call those type 'Special' for they act in the same manner as you described."
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Tim Bryce Find me in Facebook Find me in LinkedIn Find me on Twitter |
Follow the writings of Palm Harbor resident Tim Bryce, a writer and management consultant who writes commentaries about the times we live in and management concepts. His writings are well known on the Internet and are humorous, educational, and at times controversial. You won't always agree with him, but Tim will definitely get you thinking. Tim is the Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA), an international management consulting firm located in Palm Harbor. A seasoned writer, Tim's works have appeared in management and computing publications all over the world. His book, "The IRM Revolution: Blueprint for the 21st Century" made the Top 10 list of management books in Japan. His recent eBook, "THE BRYCE IS RIGHT! Empowering Managers in today's Corporate Culture," has also received critical acclaim. Tim's blogs and podcasts are read and listened to by thousands. For Tim's professional bio, click HERE.
"The Blog description is so right. You might not always agree with Tim but he always
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This web page contains links to the various writings of Tim Bryce which can be divided into two sections: Bryce's Columns and Bryce's Management Papers. Whereas the Columns are editorial in nature, the Management Papers offer sound advice on general management related issues. All papers are available for republication, but only with the expressed written consent of the author. Copyright notation of the author (as found on the specific paper) and any pertinent trademark or service mark must be observed. When reproducing an article, please add: Article reprinted with permission of the author. Please forward the author a copy of the publication when it is produced, either by e-mail or, if printed, by mail.
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