DrContrarian

Dear Mr CEO You said your job is to develop a vision and create an organisation with the right values that will make that vision a reality, so I thought I would drop this note in your lap for consideration. It is my contention that what goes for ‘strategy’ and ‘best practice’ in the modern corporate boardroom is a terminal degree of “me too-ism”. I think you have bought into a narrative that is promulgated by people who have a gnostic view of the world and specific agendas that appeal to the pseudo-thinkers of the world, but are in reality going to lead your organisation to its premature demise. OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY Over the years business organisations have been eaten away slowly from the inside by social justice warriors (SJWs). How this happened, requires us to go back a few years and in the evolution of the business organisation. Once you understand that, you will see how it has infested your organisation. Business organisations used to have a simple, clear obje...

(Or, other people’s money...) Over the years business organisations have been eaten away slowly from the inside by social justice warriors. How this happened, requires us to go back a few years and in the evolution of the business organisation. Business organisations used to have a simple, clear objective: to make a commercial return to their shareholders. To do this, they innovated, developed products and served the needs of the people in a market place where those solutions are traded for cash – at a profit. The business wins and the consumer wins. The thin edge of the wedge has been sustainability, introduced some two decades ago, by the proponents of sustainability who proffered a solution to a problem that did not exist. They suggested that organisations should broaden their focus to include an emphasis on environment and on community. Broadening the focus automatically and explicitly also equates to a dilution of focus – that stands to reason. That is the guarante...

People say you should be tolerant. But should you tolerate laziness, poor personal hygiene or stealing?   Should you tolerate abusers, perverts and scoundrels? People say you should not be judgmental. But if you don’t judge, how do you know when to cross the road? If you don’t judge whether something is appropriate how do you know it is inappropriate? If we don’t judge, how do we lock someone way for their crimes? People say you should not discriminate, but I eat certain foods every day and drink certain wines because I discriminate. I stand up for an older person on a bus because I discriminate. When I put it like that, you will be quick to realise the ridiculousness of a blanket statement like you should be tolerant or you should not judge. You might now start to qualify the statements: ·          You should tolerate what is good and what is bad. ·          You should use your judge...

Today, if Twitter is anything to go by, then there is a ‘right’ way to think and believe. This list of cultural beliefs and norms that are prevalent in modern societies, include for instance. ·          Racism is wrong ·          Democracy is right ·          Gender is a fluid, social construct ·          Religion is a primitive belief system ·          Politically we should lean left ·          Diversity should be encouraged ·          Climate change is real ·          Global Trade should be encouraged Once upon a time, we believed the opposite on all of the above. I am not suggesting you (or I) should not believe any of the above. But, ...

Societies that are homogeneous will tend to mediocrity. Conversely, the tensions caused by differences between groups of people in multicultural societies, is the force for growth and improvement. Ergo: multiculturalism might be the tough option, but it is the good option.