Not Everyone Loves You

One of the principles that I have learnt through my business career is that most groups can be divided into three subgroups: the love group, the swing group and the hate group. One of the mistakes people in marketing sometimes make is assuming everyone is in their love group. The other is trying to directly tackle the hate group.

Life is generally also like this. You will have your love group. These are those who will always see you in a good light. You also have your hate group. These are those that no matter what you do or say will always have an issue with you. Then there is a whole bunch in between who currently neither hate nor love you.

As you interact with others, you need to always remember that not everyone loves you. That is worth repeating: not everyone loves you. As much as you may wish for it to happen, there will always be people in your hate group. You can never, nor should you expect too, have everyone in your love group. Whatever you do, whatever you say, there will always be people that take issue. In their eyes, whatever you do is never good enough. The people in this group may even be people who you would assume belonged in your love group, because supposedly they "love" you. This might include parents, spouses or friends, ones who state their love for you, but always take issue with what you do or say. It might be disguised as telling you that you can do better, or wanting something better for you. In actuality the chances are they want something better for themselves, not for you. The fact of life however, is that not everyone is in your love group.

The other mistake is trying to tackle your hate group head on. I see all too often people in life wasting their time and energy on trying to convince their hate group to change. We can spend hours in heated argument with them. We tell ourselves, if only they could understand, or if only they knew how it was, then they would change, they would see me differently. We even try to change what we do in the hope that this will change their view of us. Truth is when we try to tackle our hate group head on, it merely entrenches their views and begins to frustrate those in our love group. And often trying to change those in our hate group directly ends up having the opposite effect, actually increasing the size of the hate group.

So learn to accept that the hate group is there, will always be there, and that you are not going to change them. Instead spend some time looking at those in your love group. Learn to understand what it is about you and what you do that your love group sees as so great. Then take those aspects and devote your time and energy on them. That will have the result of converting those from your swing group and growing the size and devotion of your love group.

Made for this Moment

Today in his inauguration speech, President Obama made the statement: "My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it - so long as we seize it together." Obama is not the first to use the statement: "we are made for this moment." In a Christian setting the sentiment has often been associated with the biblical story of Esther. Esther was an orphaned Jewish girl took in and reared by Mordecai, a prominent Jew in a non-Jewish society. Esther found favor with the king and went on to become his wife.

Later, those jealous of Mordecai and the other Jews persuaded the king, who was unaware of Esther's Jewish background, to issue an edict that all the Jews should be killed. Mordecai sent word to Esther asking her to plead their case before the king, even though approaching the king without an invitation could have led to Esther's own execution. On Esther's hesitation Mordecai tells her: "who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther realizing she was indeed "made for this moment" went to the king and her intervention saved the Jews from destruction.

Whatever your political or religious persuasions, one thing is sure in my mind, that each of us was made for the moment in which we find ourselves. We have the choice whether to grasp that moment and step up to the plate, or to let it slip by.

As well as the inauguration of the US president, today is also the official Martin Luther King Jr day here in the USA. King is a powerful symbol in US history, and rightly revered by many. One of the things King often spoke about was those who remained silent when wrongs were being done. He once stated: “Not only will we have to repent for the sins of bad people; but we also will have to repent for the appalling silence of good people.” 

Some times we think that being an individual, we cannot make much of a difference. A few years ago living in the United Kingdom I was struck by an article I read. It was about an offensive advertisement that had been banned by the board of advertising there, after an unprecedented number of complaints had been received from the public. What struck me most was the number of complaints that had been received. Out of a country with a population of over 65 million, the number of complaint leading to this advertisement being withdrawn was a mere 750. It taught me a valuable lesson, that a few people standing up and being counted can make all the difference.

Obama talked about seizing the moment only if we all seize it together. For everyone to seize something together though is highly unlikely in the world in which we live. But for a small number who are prepared to stand up and dare to make a difference, nothing is impossible.

King also stated:

“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there "is" such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.” 

On this day celebrating a man who made a tremendous difference by standing up and daring to dream a dream, I hope we each can realize that we are made for this moment, that we will step forward, shake off the apathy and complacency that so often befalls us, and that we can make a difference in the world in which we live.

Christmas Love

In Dr Seuss's story of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch sets out believing that if he steals all the trimmings, presents, and other material aspects he will be able to destroy Christmas. As the story progresses though, he realizes this is not so.

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

As you celebrate this Christmas day, I hope that beyond the presents, the food, the candy and the lights you might take a moment, like the Grinch, to contemplate whether Christmas indeed means a little bit more.

Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth into the world of Jesus Christ. Above all else Christ stood for love. His birth was heralded by a heavenly host declaring "on earth peace, good will toward men." Christ taught to "love one another as I have loved you", and to "love thy neighbor as thyself." In our day and age it is easy to wonder if love can indeed prevail. It almost seems impossible to think that peace can be had across the world, that we can love one another without reserve. There are those that have hurt and deceived us. Those who are vastly different in their outlook and philosophy than we. Those who have differing beliefs. There are so many reasons not to love. Can love towards all really be found anywhere but in the innocence and naivety of a child? 

The columnist, Erma Bombeck, once wrote: “There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.” There is something magical about Christmas to a child. But even more amazing is the magic of Christmas that is able to touch each of us and turn us child like. Whether or not you believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God, one cannot help but be touched by the Christmas spirit of love.

I hope that as you enjoy your Christmas time, that a bit of that magic may touch your hearts. By all means enjoy to the fullest all the celebrating, all the fun and laughter, that Christmas brings. But let it also bring back to you a touch of the purity of childhood. And with that purity reach out in love to those around you. Give forgiveness where it has been withheld. Mend the broken bridges. Let go of the pride that separates you from others. Learn to accept the differences that divide. Awake to the reality that we are all sons and daughters, all brothers and sisters of the same universe.

As you move forward beyond Christmas give the greatest gift that is possible, a loving heart. Help love mend your own lives, lift the lives of those around you, and heal a trouble world. It will not happen over night, but it begins with you, it begins today, it begins now. Let the angels' declaration become our rallying cry, one of peace on earth, good will toward men.