Life is full of contradictions. Everywhere we look we see opposing thoughts. Just look how these proverbs contradict each other:
- “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” vs. “Out of sight, out of mind”
- “The best things in life are free” vs. “There’s no such thing as a free lunch”
- “Don’t judge a book by its cover” vs “Clothes make the man”
The above proverbs seem trivial, but contradictions exist in our personal and professional lives. We want to eat a healthier diet, but also really want that milkshake (I have been there). We hire an employee that will potentially make us lots of money but will destroy our team in the process. We want to win a strategic client who could be great for us in some ways, but the way they conduct their business goes against everything we believe in. Some contradictions can eat us up inside.
At times, we all consciously or unconsciously contradict ourselves. There are so many variables involved in any one decision that it’s not practical (or sensible) to follow the same rules 100% of the time. Life isn’t always black and white. Even with the most solid ground underneath you—from your own years of experience and wisdom you’ve gained to the input from your trusted advisors—you may still not know the right answer.
In the end, it comes down to your moral compass and what is important to you in that situation. You won’t always make the right decisions, but living by your values will help you make better choices and will alleviate some of the tension that’s naturally a part of the decision-making process, particularly when the stakes are high.
How does your moral compass guide you?
“…how absurd human beings are and how magnificent.” —Benjamin Zander
Have a great weekend.
—Vijay
About Friday Food for Thought (FFfT)
I frequently attend conferences and retreats on entrepreneurship and leadership and while I am away, the J2 team picks up the slack, allowing me to learn to be better at what I do. I wanted to share what I was learning with my team, so I created the weekly FFfT emails in November of 2015 and have been writing them ever since.
Before long, the J2 staff began sharing the FFfT emails with their friends and family and now other leaders have asked to be included, which led to the creation of this newsletter. I hope you enjoy!
do. I wanted to share what I was learning with my team, so I created the weekly FFfT emails in November of 2015 and have been writing them ever since.
Before long, the J2 staff began sharing the FFfT emails with their friends and family and now other leaders have asked to be included, which led to the creation of this newsletter. I hope you enjoy!