tVB 48 BUSINESS START-UP: BUILDING YOUR VISION - DON’T GET ‘LIMITED’!


tVB 48:

BUSINESS START-UP:

BUILDING YOUR VISION - DON’T GET ‘LIMITED’!

For me, every new day provides new opportunities to observe and try to understand human behavior and interactions just a little bit more. I am particularly disturbed by our lack of foresight shown when we become self-centred in our decisions and actions. You will see self-centredness in action on practically every stage that human beings operate – at work, at play, at home, on the road, in the church!

Are you Self-centred or ‘limited’ in your decisions and actions? To be self-centred is to be, “Limited to or caring only about yourself and your own needs”. Summarily, being self-centred is allowing yourself become ‘limited’ as the definition states. 

In 2 Samuel 12, King David got quite angry at the story told by the prophet Nathan. A rich man took his poor neighbour’s single lamb to make a meal for his guest. Any one, really, should be livid at such a report, but this had a twist. It was an allegory. It was about David himself. In pursuing self-centred satisfaction, David took the wife of Uriah his loyal subject and murdered him to hide his felony. The only problem was that God saw him! And although he was a man after God’s heart, many sad and grievous days marked this man’s life. Self-centred living will always produce catastrophic results.

Self-centred people operate from such a limited perception of outcomes that they tend to sacrifice the greater good just to achieve personal gratification, ultimately destroying the works of Industry, turning great inventions into dangerous weapons and enslaving the weak who have been placed in their care. Any level of government run by self-centred persons will definitely perform below its true potential.

God commands us to love our neighbours as ourselves. When we do less, we fall to a level lower than our glorious place in creation. When we consciously fix the benefits of our privileged positions on ourselves alone we begin building a structure that will not last. According to Oswald Chambers, “If we build to please ourselves, we are building on the sand.”  Truth is, self-centred living is the shortest route to frustration. It was Charles Kingsley who said, “If you wish to be miserable, think much about yourself; about what you want, what you like, what respect people ought to pay you, and what people think of you.”

One day while waiting in one particular Bank’s hall one day I watched how diligent staffers were so focused on their jobs. The only problem was they seemed more focused on their jobs than on their customers. So much so that one customer got so miffed that she demanded to close her account with the Bank. They were working but she was not getting served! There is an extent to which we over-focus on ourselves that we get so distracted from the purpose our jobs. That’s when our responsibilities begin to feel like burdens, and we start treating those we are assigned to serve like ‘pests’. Self-centredness is the bane of team building and productivity, because people look out for themselves first and only. In the hands of a selfish person, a job becomes a weapon for oppressing the less privileged.

Limiting the impact of Self-centredness

Dealing with self-centredness is a matter that affects both the leader as well as those he or she leads. Don’t live under the illusion that some people are immune. Truth is, the higher up the ladder of power or authority you are, the more susceptible to self-centredness you become. Let’s consider a few principles that, I believe, will help us grossly reduce the harmful effects of self-centred behaviours. But what are Principles? Principles are a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct. Principles don’t change, and do not depend on our choices to conform. They work regardless of our consciousness or ignorance.

Accountability

Accountability is ‘Responsibility to someone or for some activity’. Sometimes people may not ‘will’ to act as is required. It is therefore necessary for leaders to institute a system of accountability by which actions are weighed and determined. The more the responsibility, the more the accountability required. Leaders should make themselves accountable to those they lead. Automatically, those they lead will follow their example and be accountable.

Incentives, Rewards and Sanctions

Incentives, rewards and sanctions form a back-bone for Accountability. When people operate by acceptable and expected behaviours, they should be rewarded and encouraged. When they act otherwise, there should be commensurate sanction. Incentives should be made available to motivate people to present expected and acceptable behaviours in their assigned responsibilities. The bible states, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land, but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 1:19-20)

Interdependence

Leaders should design work-flow systems that promoting interdependence and bonding. No one is perfect but we can all operate in a near-perfect system if everyone acts as expected, balanced by sufficient rewards and sanctions.

If you want whatever you do to amount to much, practice selflessness instead. According to Benjamin Franklin, “A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.” Selflessness is not ignoring your own needs. No! It is the honourable quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others. It is a display of a divine character. According to William Ellery Channing, “All great virtues bear the imprint of self-denial.” Selfless people act with less concern for themselves than for the success of the joint activity. The greater good is their goal. And they will always be rewarded in time. Just wait for it.

Let me close with the words of Richard J. Foster, “In submission we are free to value other people. Their dreams and plans become important to us. We have entered into a new, wonderful, glorious freedom, the freedom to give up our own rights for the good of others. For the first time we can love people unconditionally. We have given up the right for them to return our love. No longer do we feel that we have to be treated in a certain way. We can rejoice with their successes. We feel genuine sorrow at their failures. It is of little consequence that our plans are frustrated if their plans succeed. We discover that it is far better to serve our neighbor than to have our own way.” God bless.

Any Questions on Business Start-Up?

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TOPE A. BANJO

Business Start-Up Trainer,

Church Work Teacher & Author.

- Lagos, Nigeria.

+234 803 3075 969 (WhatsApp)

Instagram: @topebanjo

buildyourvisions@gmail.com

tope-banjo.blogspot.com

 

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