Hahahaha...been there, done that, and been burned, all right where I called home. 2016 had me returning to work locally. It was a different thing working internationally. You expect somethings and have your antenna up. Yet, relatively, it was much safer than working locally, where the culture enable certain atrocities that get covered under the blanket and not challenged, as it seems acceptable to those entrusted with protecting you.
The local leadership were people known to me for years, I was suppose to consider as friends, and so I thought, but was so mistaken. People were juxtaposing for positions and felt a need to use what they already had to oppress others. I had assumptions of friendship. They had assumptions of competition and looked for ways to clip my wings. We had HR Partners who were suppose to protect the corporate culture, but were consumed with protecting themselves from the hawks that they were useless in function.
Well I got a rude awakening from the whole experience. Wish I knew the second Law of Power before then. Now I do. Now I understand that a supposed friend is only a friend to the extent of their own security and safety in themselves, their present, and their future. Insecurity eats friendship for lunch, or should I say breakfast. And, it does not matter the gap in grade levels. The wider the gap the worse the threat to the supposed higher grade. Their inferiority complex has a better hold of them, they are unable to think straight.
I'll save you more of the war tales. I'll sum it up by saying, "Don't take ANYTHING for granted." Don't be mesmerized by the false smiles and laughters. Know yourself, the things that are important to you and guard them zealously, carefully and diligently. Like the ancient wisdom teaches us, "Be well collected and aware, you have enemies (some are visible, others are masqueraded as friends)." You owe it to yourself, your present, and your future to always take "Extreme Ownership" of your world.
Extreme Ownership means you don't assume any friend has your back. Sometimes the enemies do a better job of that than friends do. No wishing, no "expecting the cavalry" to come take care of things. If there is anything you want, you sow for it. You do the things that will make it come to pass. There are no permanent enemies, just as there are no permanent friends. Enjoy the seasons, and when they are gone, enjoy the new one, without any ounce of regret.
All things are yours - friends and enemies alike. It is up to you to engage them aright in a way the lifts you up and builds the life you are here for.
The local leadership were people known to me for years, I was suppose to consider as friends, and so I thought, but was so mistaken. People were juxtaposing for positions and felt a need to use what they already had to oppress others. I had assumptions of friendship. They had assumptions of competition and looked for ways to clip my wings. We had HR Partners who were suppose to protect the corporate culture, but were consumed with protecting themselves from the hawks that they were useless in function.
Well I got a rude awakening from the whole experience. Wish I knew the second Law of Power before then. Now I do. Now I understand that a supposed friend is only a friend to the extent of their own security and safety in themselves, their present, and their future. Insecurity eats friendship for lunch, or should I say breakfast. And, it does not matter the gap in grade levels. The wider the gap the worse the threat to the supposed higher grade. Their inferiority complex has a better hold of them, they are unable to think straight.
I'll save you more of the war tales. I'll sum it up by saying, "Don't take ANYTHING for granted." Don't be mesmerized by the false smiles and laughters. Know yourself, the things that are important to you and guard them zealously, carefully and diligently. Like the ancient wisdom teaches us, "Be well collected and aware, you have enemies (some are visible, others are masqueraded as friends)." You owe it to yourself, your present, and your future to always take "Extreme Ownership" of your world.
Extreme Ownership means you don't assume any friend has your back. Sometimes the enemies do a better job of that than friends do. No wishing, no "expecting the cavalry" to come take care of things. If there is anything you want, you sow for it. You do the things that will make it come to pass. There are no permanent enemies, just as there are no permanent friends. Enjoy the seasons, and when they are gone, enjoy the new one, without any ounce of regret.
All things are yours - friends and enemies alike. It is up to you to engage them aright in a way the lifts you up and builds the life you are here for.
The Saint.
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