Day 3: Adhering to Principle in Decision Making

What is the role of principle in making decisions as an entrepreneur? Let’s first take a look at how one would make decisions when there is no adherence to principle. In business, and in life, challenges come up. Disputes and conflicts arise and in these moments we are called to make decisions that will have consequences not only for our business or our own personal lives but also consequences for the lives of others.  The more successful one is at creating and expanding a business, then the more people’s lives one will affect. So, as a businessperson, one has a tremendous responsibility to make sure that one is making the right decision. And what is ‘right’? In the greatest possible context, ‘right’ would mean ‘what is best for all equally.’

So if a dispute or conflict arises and we throw our principle out the window then obviously the decision made will not be the best one. For example, let’s say one is looking to sign an important and lucrative contract with a new client. Now let’s say this new client is showing signs of doubt about entering into the contract. At this point, one has two options, to go into fear and then make decisions within that, or to remain with the principle of what is best for all and to make decisions within that context. In the self-development circles, one commonly hears that to be successful, one must always remain positive. People misunderstand this concept and take it to mean that they should avoid all negatives.  What it should be understood to mean is that one should always keep one’s goal in mind and to take any situation, whether positive or negative and find a way to use the situation to advance further towards one’s goal. Now, this says nothing of principle, so obviously if your goal is to sell a product that harms people, one could still apply this concept and it would support them to succeed within the limited context of achieving this limited goal. If we use our common sense, we can easily work out that if one does something that harms others, it will eventually create a consequence that would bring harm to oneself. This is the principle of giving what one would like to receive. The fact is that we receive what we give, whether we like it or not. It goes both ways with no regard to whether the giving is best or not.

Now, to get back to the point of  ‘remaining positive’ in the context of decision making, it is easy to fall into the trap of trying to avoid the negative and within that altering one’s decisions and losing sight of one’s principle. Within this, the tendency is to make a decision that is not best and at some point manifesting a consequence that is ‘negative.’ Thus by trying to avoid the negative, we create it.  So the point is not to ‘remain positive’ or to ‘avoid the negative’ but rather to remain neutral and stable within one’s principle. It may be that one must walk through some rather uncomfortable or negative experiences because one has chosen to move according to principle rather than some limited goal like chasing money only for example. Not that there is anything wrong with money, per se, but when one disregard principle and only go after money then one’s decisions will bring harm to others and through the principle of give and receive, bring harm to oneself. For further perspective on this point, I suggest to read this blog post: The Natural Learning Ability of the Human.

Another point to consider here is that adhering to a principle also frees one to a certain degree because one is not constantly bending to circumstances. Obviously as a businessperson, one must respond to circumstance, however one should never allow circumstance to dictate one’s choice. Choice is either aligned with what is best for all or it is not. That doesn’t mean it will always be easy to recognize the right choice, because so much of our thought process and therefore decision making is a programmed from birth to always lead to the choice that harms and abuses. So obviously this is why this writing process is so important as well as having someone to cross-reference with and support one with making sure that one’s reasoning process is not flawed. In terms of judging whether it is flawed or not, we must simply sit and work out whether a choice or line of reasoning leads to the best possible result or whether there is some form of abuse or harm that could be avoided. This does require effort, but as an entrepreneur, we should become accustomed to effort as nothing moves without it. Effort should become our close companion. Our world is not currently designed in a way that is best, therefore if we are aligned with the principle of doing and creating what is best for all, then of course we will have to apply tremendous effort, because only that which is programmed and automatic will be easy. So we will have to apply effort in alignment with our principle until we alter reality enough that it becomes programmed in the way that is best. Business is currently THE TOOL to alter reality, along with its auxiliary components of government, education, media, etc, but the fact is that reality moves and molds according to the flow of money. Obviously if we can combine business with education and align it with what is best for all then we will be able to move reality in a way prepares future generations to take responsibility for their lives and to thus be able to not only walk through the consequences we have created but to also be able to live in a better world without screwing it up as we have done.

So to close the point, one must not allow oneself to fear facing the negative. If one react and try to avoid a negative outcome, it will only cause one to act within the polarity and then become subject to the up and down energy cycle discussed in Day 1: Structure vs Energy. What I have found is that when the reaction to a potentially negative situation comes up, to first breathe and allow the energy to dissipate. Then I take a step back within myself and allow myself to first see what are all the possible decisions I could make and then to play out the consequences of those decisions as best as I can. Within this, no scenario is ‘off limits.’ If there is a fear that I will lose a contract, for example, then I allow myself to play that out as if it were going to happen and to see who I would be within that decision. Only once I have looked at the best case scenario as well as the worst case scenario and all scenarios in between, and removed any emotional reaction from within, then I look at each point and see which is most in line with the principle of what is best for all. In other words, how does each decision potentially affect all involved. By sticking to this process I am able to make the best possible decisions within my business and therefore have the best possible effect in reality. By not shying away from examining the negative I allow myself the opportunity to find out what really is best, not just from a short term, personal context but from the widest possible context. Clearly this is a major problem with the way many publicly traded businesses are run where the most important factor in a decision is whether it will bring short term profit without considering the long term consequence for everyone else on the planet. For business to be used as a tool to bring about a better world, it must be aligned with the principle of always acting in a way that is best for all. It may be difficult for some to hear, because the attractiveness of living for money and comfort is so ingrained within us, but at the end of the day one must determine what one is willing to stand for. So the question is then: Who are you?

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