When being right can sometimes mean being alone

It is easy to follow the crowd, to succumb to cancel culture, mob mentality, or plain peer pressure. It is more convenient and comfortable to “belong”, rather than risk being right but be left out.

The pursuit of what is right and what is true seems simple and straightforward at first, but within the context of echo chambers and one’s need to belong in a “tribe”, it can feel lonely. The one that pursues what is right and what is true cannot afford to be stubborn; or else, he might misperceive his righteousness when it could be turning into hubris.

An authentic, relentless, iterative, critical, second-guessing, sober outlook to the pursuit of what is right and what is true – this sounds very challenging. Not many would be willing to take this journey. Thus, those who dare should be ready to feel alone and lonely at times…

… While keeping the faith that there are others who would be attracted to the same journey not because it looks good, but because it is a vocation towards what is good.

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Matthew 5:20-26. Uprightness beyond that of scribes and Pharisees

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 160: JUNE 9, 2022]

Rethinking and interacting with structures

When I first read blue ocean strategy, creative thinking, and facilitating insights, what struck me the most is the importance of paying attention to structures (e.g., industries, business models, creative thinking matrices) and asking meta-cognitive questions (e.g., eliminating or removing things taken for granted; challenging conventions; abstracting what works in one context and experimenting with it in another context).

The basics of strategy seemed to be guided by identifying structures and their forces to react accordingly. On the other hand, a bolder perspective is to mold and shape structures – from “responding to industry forces” to “creating industries or creating industry forces”.

Today’s gospel highlights the need for a more proactive life – fulfilling the commandments means attempting to understand the commandments’ spirit. A flourishing life is not about minimum compliance with the rules and norms that bind us; but rather, it is about fulfilling the principles and spirit that these rules intend us to do.

“I came not to abolish but to fulfill.” Maybe this means that to innovate is not necessarily always about “disruption” and “breaking rules”, but re-centering ourselves and asking:

What holistic value should we focus on creating? And how should we do it?

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Matthew 5:17-19. I came not to abolish but to fulfill

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 158: JUNE 7, 2022]

Finding peace in any context

Context can refer to any set of events, past and present (and potentially future), that the knower deems relevant to the entity being studied.

When I was younger and more naive, I thought that I could search for silver bullets or universal solutions I can use or apply in any instance. I realize now that such pursuit is futile; silver bullets do not really exist, and it is the ability of the person to recognize relevant events and entities as context that allow a person to discern towards a responsible decision and action.

There is a kind of a sobering peace that can be borne out of that authentic reflection. I again invoke the prayer for serenity, courage, and wisdom: accepting the things that we are not unable to change alone, changing the things that we reasonably can, and a continuous predisposition to iterate, to try and fail, so that one may truly grow.

In a sense, peace is about knowing fully well how both powerless and powerful we can be. And with faith, the Holy Spirit can ablaze us to be the best version of ourselves.

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John 20:19-23. The Pentecost: Peace be with you

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 156: JUNE 5, 2022]

To stand on the shoulders of giants

When we provide authentic care and nourishment, we allow a person to flourish – to somehow become more or be better than he was before. In a way, the one providing care plays the role of a “giant”, and the one being cared for is the humble little one relying on the shoulders of the caregiver to appreciate insightful perspectives.

Time comes when the one being cared for becomes too heavy or does not need anymore to stand on the shoulders of a giant, or he would seek an even bigger giant to stand shoulders on. When the one receiving care becomes bigger than the giant, should the latter feel insecure?

I think no. If any, the giant’s shoulders may have been the foundation by which the person was able to stand on and grow. Nothing can takeaway that value.

It’s apt that “standing on the shoulders of giants” is a metaphor used in research, because young researchers rely on the insights of the giants before them, before these young researchers can become “giants” of their own.

And this cycle of letting others stand on our shoulders, isn’t this what the advancement of civilization is all about?

Like a parent immensely joyful due to the child’s growth or a mentor immensely joyful due to a mentee’s growth, euphoria and love is not necessarily self-centered, but rather, they are self-with-others.

When we stand on the shoulders of giants, we also place a piece of them on our shoulders.

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John 21:15-19. Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 154: JUNE 3, 2022]