Today's Life Lesson 3

Today's Life Lesson 3

BUSINESS MATTERS (BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE) By Francis J. Kong (The Philippine Star) Updated February 26, 2011 12:00 AM

Have you ever done things you regretted?

Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and said, “Why did I do something I knew was wrong?”

People are not dumb. Most of the time, they’re just not careful. In the heat of the moment, they do things without thinking... then live to regret them.

But people who are wise do the opposite. In the heat of the moment, wise people do... NOTHING! They let the moment pass first. This really makes more sense than reacting and then living to regret how one reacted.

“In the heat of the moment” is a dangerous time to take actions. Because when “in the heat of the moment”, we get excited. Over a person, over a prospect, over an opportunity or even over something seemingly harmless like a product (which is not harmless at all when one’s finances are tight). And then we make a decision, while our perspective is skewed,

Emotionally-charged environments make many wise people do dumb things. In the heat of the moment, wisdom often becomes elusive; the emotion of the moment obscures the wise choice. As in many resignation cases.

In my leadership seminars, I always emphasize that resigning from a job is an option everyone can exercise, but never at the height of an emotional moment. Anger, lust, love, money or even a crisis all bring emotionally-charged moments that make it difficult for us to see straight, think straight and decide straight.

Listen to the lines that come out of a person who’s in the heat of the moment:

“Wow! Just look at her!”

“But I can’t live without him!”

“Interest-free installment plan!”

“I’ll teach him a lesson or two!”

And this line has plunged a lot of good people into the pit of financial despair: “Wow! 40 percent return?”

Meanwhile, this is how wise people respond in the heat of the moment:

“Let me think about it. But if this is a rush, then my immediate answer is NO!”

“She’s so pretty... better stay away as far as possible from her.”

“Something doesn’t feel right. I better study it carefully.”

“I really feel like quitting, but I better check my options first.”

“God, I don’t feel good about this. Please help me and give me wisdom on how to deal with this.”

Call me old school, but think about this: Isn’t it easier to just say “No” to an invitation for lunch than to say “No” in the arms of an embrace? Isn’t it easier to just say “No” to an offer to compromise than to say “No” when the deed is done and the money is about to come in?

The next time an enticing proposition is offered, be wise – DO NOTHING. Put emotions under control. These emotions could be envy, jealousy or bitterness – just keep them under control.

Not only do wise people DO NOTHING, they also SAY NOTHING. They admit that they don’t know something when they don’t know it. They don’t go ahead and open their mouth to confirm their ignorance. 

This is how they appear wise and remain wise.

 And wise people, they pray, seek counsel and do their homework, before they do something or say something.

There are many unnecessary conflicts that have crippled an organization’s or even an individual’s progress, all because people didn’t know how to wise up in the heat of the moment. Listen to the advice from the wisest person who ever lived. Solomon said, “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.” (Proverbs 1:5).

Now, isn’t that wise?