CONSIDERING CONSEQUENCES

My father has a habit of plain-speaking to a fault. He is fond of expressing great concepts with an economy of words. Tidbits of his wisdom were sprinkled throughout my childhood. But one particular saying continues to reverberate with meaning in a modern context: "Actions have consequences."

A clear indicator of wisdom is the ability to consider the results of a plan BEFORE moving ahead. Sadly, this kind of patient analysis seems to develop only over the course of time. It is why younger souls (like myself) become frustrated by seinor folk (like my progenitor) when they seem to be slow to act. While we focus intently on achieveing useful goals, out attention to related details is often lacking. This kind of 'tunnel vision' can cause unintended problems to develop as a result of our haste. In agrarian terms: What we plant will be our harvest. Care must be taken with the garden, or our reward will be naught!

Also, our plan must be pure. If we aim to succeed, but go forward with actions that wreak havoc for our neighbors, then we are condemmed to fail. No organization can survive without respect for the greater community in which it operates. Winning = losing when the cause is unjust.

The Christian Bible speaks clearly on this subject, with flawless logic:


Jeremiah 12:13 - "They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they will wear themselves out but gain nothing. So bear the shame of your harvest because of the LORD's fierce anger."

Job 4:8 - "As I have observed, those who plow evil
and those who sow trouble reap it."

In business, the consumer ultimately sits in judgement over those who drive our economy. Thus, the mightiest CEO is no more than a caretaker, at best. The ability to control wealth comes only by satisfying customers. Those who can not 'sell' dependably are doomed by the process itself. Registers must ring, every day!

This need to move product profitably often causes commercial institutions to operate with an aggressive approach toward cutting costs. There is no way around the need for fiscal discipline. The immediate yield of thrifty procedures may be admirable. But... what long-term effects are caused, as a result?

Here comes the echo: "Actions have consequences."

Improvement comes only through overcoming challenges. Yet nothing is gained from a harvest planted in vain. If the wages of success is to surrender our values, than we have foolishly paid too much.

And everyone will be poorer, as a result.

RDI