In the battle for corporate ideas it is easy to assume that you are smarter than the opposition. Obviously since you know the right answer they must not be dum. This simple assumption, often arrogant and blind, weakens an individual’s abilities and defenses and leads one to effectively concede the outcome of battle in advance to the unacknowledged power of the adversary. Underestimating one’s opponent, not understanding what is at stake in the battle, is a natural, na?ve mistake of those who have not really decided to win. Learning from history is an effective tool in preparing for the moment. Ignoring history and the powerful instructions that others sacrificed their souls to create is a dangerous decision that squanders our forefather’s gifts to the community. Yet we do this day in and day out, usually starting with the lessons of our personal journey.
The difference between ideas traditionally falls into two buckets. First there are the facts. Do we see the same facts? Does one of us see more or different facts? Secondly one has the logic in looking at the facts and drawing conclusions. I would like to add a third way of understanding how we draw different conclusions; motivation.
What is your life mission? Do you know your values and priorities, especially as expressed by your choices? Do you understand your inner motivation?
Joes notes that destruction’s army has a clear sense of mission, purpose, and motivation. “They don't get in each other's way. Each one knows his job and does it. Undaunted and fearless, unswerving, unstoppable.” (Joel 2.8) This should drive the fear deep into anyone confronting evil.
With this power in front is might seem that any chance of the “good” side winning would be lost. It isn’t. Love, especially as shown through compassion, mercy, and forgiveness, is stronger than evil because of the motivation behind it. Community will triumph over self. Team is more than the sum of the parts.
Evil is strong, very strong. We can be even stronger. Each is a choice. We will make one or we lose.
