Surviving Corporate America: Political Rugby

Be careful which team you are willing to play for when choosing your career. It would be wise to forfeit now if you think the sport of Politics will showboat your personal campaign of values and beliefs. Quit while you are behind. Most winners are those who pick the right side at the right time. They equivocate, please all of the people all of the time; and most of all, they campaign someone else’s agenda. If you are still interested in a spot on the team, there is one tip about your teammates you should remember: on every team there are at least two kinds of recreants. One acts complaisant towards all; however, a friend to everyone is a friend to no one. The other plays coy, and is the first to pull a fatal Ace out of his sleeve.

Politics is a game with the highest rate of unnecessary roughness for which players will hastily take a penalty against team members if offered a greater reward from a dominating team. Aye, therein lies the rub. If you are a true champion, you will have mastered the evanescent skill of leading your team with integrity and instilling in each of your players an intrinsic loyalty; all the while campaigning the values and beliefs of the team.

So, whose side are you on?

“To be good is noble, but to teach others how to be good is nobler – and less trouble.” – Mark Twain; “Doctor Van Dyke” speech, 1906