At the heart of how we act (and how we are governed) lies a simple trick: redirection. When things get too difficult or unpleasant, we simply organize something shiny and exciting to distract us. This strategy works everywhere—from our minds to the world’s largest nations and corporations. In Ancient Rome. We’ve all heard of the Colosseum. Why did the emperors build it? It wasn’t just for the love of sports. When people are poor, hungry, and angry at the authorities, the best "medicine" is gladiator battles. While the crowd screams in the stands, they forget they have nothing to eat. "Bread and circuses" is the oldest way to make people look in the wrong direction.
In politics, things haven't changed much. Is there an economic crisis or a corruption scandal? Expect an immediate grand parade, a national celebration, or the loud announcement of a "revolutionary" new idea. The goal is to create enough positive noise to drown out the uncomfortable questions. Big companies do the same. If a firm gets caught in a scandal (like environmental pollution), they won’t just talk about the problem. Instead, they will organize a glamorous event to launch a new, "green," and amazing product. They use our curiosity and admiration to "wash" their public image. Every one of us does it. When we are under huge stress or something bad happens, we often run toward something exciting—planning a dream vacation, going to a concert, or throwing ourselves into a party. Such an act isn't just an escape. It’s our way of staying sane. We redirect our minds toward something good to find the strength to keep going. The Bottom Line: Whether it’s a government strategy or a personal choice, the mechanism is the same. We use excitement as a "painkiller" for life’s hardships. Our strength lies in knowing when to shift our focus so we don't let our problems crush us.
Author Sezgin Ismailov
The best CEOs I know are teachers, and at the heart of what they teach is strategy.
ReplyDeleteMichael Porter
Perception is strong, vision is weak. In strategy, it is important to see things far away, what they would be like if they were close, and to look at things that are close separately.
ReplyDeleteMiyamoto Musashi
Violence is a personal necessity for the oppressed... It is not a strategy that is consciously developed. It is the deep, instinctive expression of a personality that has been denied individuality.
ReplyDeleteRichard Wright
We have fallen for the devil’s lie. His most basic strategy, the same one he used with Adam and Eve, is to make us believe that sin brings fulfillment. But in reality, sin robs us of fulfillment. Sin does not make life interesting; it makes existence empty. Sin does not create adventure; it dulls it. Sin does not expand life; it shrinks it. The emptiness of sin inevitably leads to boredom. When there is fulfillment, when there is beauty, when we see God as he truly is—an endless reservoir of delight—boredom becomes impossible.
ReplyDeleteRandy Alcorn