I Will Survive

G-d gives us strength. 

To battle ignorance, apathy, and evil. 

To educate, persuade, influence, and fight for what’s right. 

With a thick skin of battle armor.

And sword and arrows of insight, cunning, and righteousness.

To stand firm even when you feel weakened. 

To find the words even when you are mocked. 

To see clearly and hear distinctly even when confounded. 

The soul and spirit of G-d guides you.

As you traverse a journey through life’s winding tests and challenges. 

Fight heroically to repair that which is broken. 

Say resolutely, I will survive!  😉

Cracking Heads–In War and Work

Thought this was an amazing painting of the medieval battlefield.

The warrior in the center is using his war hammer to literally split heads open.

Not only for physical fighting (i.e. life and death), I’ve heard this term in the past used in the office setting:

“Cracking heads” to get things done. 

While war is war, I don’t think that getting to progress in the office ever merits cracking anyone’s head–let along with a battle hammer. 

Yes, people can be stubborn and occasionally pose obstacles to moving forward, but that is what communication skills and persuasion are for.

You have to seriously question the leadership and sanity of anyone who thinks and talks about hurting people at work. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Persuasion x 3

I liked this categorization of three types of tools of persuasion developed by Aristotle: 

– Ethos: Appeals to a sense of ethics, morals, and character. 

– Logos: Appeals to a sense of logic, reason, and rationality.

– Pathos: Appeals to a sense of emotion, empathy, and passion. 

I don’t know about most people, but I don’t get convinced easily. 

You need to show me, prove it to me, or convince me it’s right. 

Some others, and I don’t know why–it’s like you can sell them the Brooklyn Bridge, as they say.  

I think that’s dangerous!

Without critical thinking and evaluation, people can get led astray to do the wrong things…a perfect example is Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler (may his memory be forever cursed).  

Hitler appealed to the Germans people at the time:

– Emotionally to bring them back from the loss, destruction, and destitution that World War I inflicted and of course, to scapegoat the Jews, Gypsies, and political opponents and send them to the death camps. 

– Logically, that they were a strong and powerful people, the “Aryan nation,” and they therefore, deserved to conquer and rule Europe and the World.

– Ethically–let’s just say, this one didn’t really apply to Hitler, probably the most evil and destructive man this world has ever known, except that even Hitler tried to fool his people falsely proclaiming, “G-d is with us!”

It’s a war of good over evil out there, and we need to make our arguments to influence and persuade for the good, but we also have to be careful not to let others, who are not so good, manipulate us for their own selfish and depraved ends. 

Ethos, Logos, and Pathos–potent tools or weapons in the direction of mankind and civilization. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Anus Protectus

So I learned this new phrase today:

“Anus Protectus”

It’s what it sounds like.

It when you communicate (or do) something in order to “cover your a*s.”

Sometimes we communicate as an FYI.

Other times as a FYSA.

And then there is the CYA. 

All of these are what we call “Purposeful communications.”

The only real difference is their purposes. 

When you open your mouth or your email make sure you know your:

– Why (intent)

– Who (audience)

– How (persuasion techniques)

These are the secret sauce of good communication. 

More blogs to come on this important topic. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Falling On The Sword

Sometimes things happen that we don’t agree with or like. 

We may even get blamed for them when we didn’t do anything wrong. 

At times like these, there comes up inside of us a strong visceral feeling to speak up and out–to right the wrongs!

There are times when we can, but there are also times when it may be better to hold our tongue for another day. 

In the olden times, people that spoke out, often had their tongue cut right out in front of them–no questions asked.

These days, thank G-d, most people may not be that cruel, but still people get punished for speaking truth to power–when the power is tone deaf or possibly even behaving more as brutal dictators than as benevolent leaders. 

The problem for the average Joe is that there is no point in losing your tongue or even your head by acting rashly or imprudently.

Better to wait and plan for the right moment to be effective and stand with integrity for your ideals and what you know in your heart is right. 

Maybe even at times, we have to fall on our swords until we can make a strong and convincing case and change both hearts and minds to betterment. 

The point is not only to do what’s right, but to make things right in the world around us.

Swords too often can come out swinging wildly, unless we carefully sharpen them and practice our lunges and cuts, and work to repair the wrongs in the world as soldiers of righteousness. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

The Easy Way or The Hard Way

So I like this quote by Carl von Clausewitz:

“War is an extension of politics by other means.”

There is diplomacy and then there is war!

– Diplomacy is soft power–talking, persuading, negotiating, and compromise. 

– War is hard power–fighting/combat using kinetic or cyber-based means.

When diplomacy fails, then war is what’s left to compel the enemy to come around to your way of thinking and do your will. 

As they say, there’s the easy way or the hard way–that’s the dual before the duel.

Either way it gets to resolution. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Getting Your Message Out With Impact

There is an old Jewish parable about the body parts arguing which is most important. 

Each makes it’s case that without that part, we just couldn’t function. (No jokes here now!)

But in the end, the tongue that harnesses the power of speech demonstrates that it is most important, because it is through our words that we may live or die. 

– Say the right thing–something smart and influence the masses–and you can change or even save the world.

– Say the wrong thing–something stupid, inflammatory, and damaging–and it can literally mean your or someone else’s life.

From an early age, we come to recognize that communication is so important to our success. 

Hey, I need a bottle or diaper changed…please!

Or answer the (interview) questions well, and you can land yourself in the best schools and jobs and even with the best ladies. 🙂

Those that succeed with communication, can we make themselves and their positions heard, understood, and accepted.

What are some common communication strategies people employ?

Well as we’ve all learned, it’s not always the one who is the boldest, screams the loudest, or repeats themselves the most that wins the argument–although at times, that too can work when force of debate, undeterred passion, and a little crazy can hammer the points home. 

Having the best laid out and most rationale argument–some people will rightfully be influenced by logic and common sense. 

Sincerity, integrity, honesty, and appealing to people’s gut and emotions–this certainly goes a long way as many people are driven by their feelings as well as their instincts and genuine character assessment of others. 

Making people confront what scares the hell out of them–fear is a big motivator for action and everyone is afraid of something and usually many things. 

Oh, of course, the religious argument that “It’s what G-d wants” and there will be fire and brimstone if you don’t do it that way–well reward and punishment, heaven and hell, divine justice–that certainly will move masses. 

“The pen is mightier than the sword.”

For those who can effectively harness the power of their speech and intellect, the sky is the limit. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Taking The Spin Off Things

Ok, so here is what I learned over the years about communication…

Question everything, believe nothing (except in G-d).

It’s not just that a lot of people out there are full of sh*t–yes, that is true too. 

But also that many powerful people are experts at manipulation and spin. 

Take just some recent some examples:

– We didn’t just give America and Israel-hating “suicidal, apocalypse-seeking” Iran a clear path to the bomb and in just half a generations’ time (along with hundreds of billions to continue funding global terror and a lifting of the weapons and ballistic missile embargo), instead we have a “comprehensive long term deal with Iran that will prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”

– With the hackers who not only showed how to take wireless control of a moving Jeep Cherokee, but also released information on how to do it, they didn’t put another tool in the toolkit of the cyber attackers and terrorists out there, instead “they are bringing atttention to an issue auto makers have for too long ignored.“

Could go on and on to issue after issue…

The point is that from a young age we are primed to respect, listen, and automatically believe figures of authority and experts–when our parents, teachers, spiritual leaders or a policeman or fireman says something, we naturally believe them, who they are, and in them. 

This is what politicians and executives and other people in power prey on–that we will believe them over everyone else or any other facts to the contrary. They have the title, the uniform, the badge, or whatever, and so they must be good, honest, and trustworthy.

However, good parents and teachers make sure to tell children not just to take people or what they say at face value. For example, if someone comes to the door and says they are delivering a package, don’t just open the door.  Look through the peephole, ask for identification, or have them come with a neighbor, etc. 

I remember in the very first movie of “Death Wish” with Charles Bronson, where his wife and daughter answer the door expecting a simple delivery from the supermarket that they were just at and instead they get a brutal gang that murders the wife and rapes the daughter. 

Similarly, in cases where women get pulled over, attacked, and raped by someone with flashing lights, siren, and even a fake uniform/badge–even as you believe you are obeying the law, others are taking advantage and fooling you.

As comforting as our beliefs are and perhaps even that we just want to believe–things often are not as they appear or what we want or expect them to be–what goes on behind the scenes and the spin that comes out in front are designed to intoxicate the masses. 😉

(Source Photo: here with attribution to Kristian Niemi)

That’s Good Cookin’

This was a funny picture when we were out west. 

This guy is standing on the corner dancing around in his apron and chef’s hat. 

He’s also got a big fat fake mustache on top of his real one and big round glasses/googles on his face. 

He is working hard to attract people to come into his restaurant. 

This “chef” calls over to us jumping around–doing anything to get our attention. 

So we had already eaten lunch, but he did get us to stop and say hello–this picture captures the moment. 😉

(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

What’s Diplomacy Anyway?

This was a humorous engraved stone that I found in a gift shop today.

It is a Concord “Words From The Wise,” engraved paperweight, crafted in England.

Diplomacy is generally associated with negotiation, persuasion, consideration, tactfulness, etiquette, and respect. However, this engraved paperweight has a little bit of a different view of it–“The art of letting someone have it your way.”

Diplomacy has traditionally been differentiated from the use of military power in that diplomacy relies on “soft power” (co-opting or winning over cooperation), whereas the military employs “hard power” (coercion). Both are ways of handling relations and resolving conflict.

More recently, some foreign affairs experts have started to use “smart power,” which is situational-based–leveraging alliances and partnerships in some cases and a strong military in others.

In any case, it’s all about working together to bridge differences–and like the “Easy Button” the best way is to maintain a strong relationship, whether you get your way or not. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)