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The legacy of political and social freedoms
we enjoy in the U.S. is an inheritance purchased
with the blood of brave men and women throughout history who were willing
to sacrifice everything for the good of humanity and survival of our
nation's principles. Among those who paid the ultimate price for their
service to our country is our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, born February 12, 1809.
Lincoln died in 1865 at the hands
of an enemy he never knew. For years though, he endured criticisms from a
host of outspoken adversaries. Such is to be expected for anyone who
stands publicly for what they believe. Where can we find that kind of
personal courage today, to help us deal with the darts of our own
enemies? Look to the wisdom of Lincoln, featured in this week's
thought-provoking Quote of the Week quotation. It may be just what you
need.
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Am I not destroying my enemies when I make
friends of them?
— Abraham Lincoln
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Key Point
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These
words from our 16th President suggest that he, like most of us, had
thoughts of retribution when facing the sting of adversaries (he speaks
of "destroying" enemies, after all). Unlike most of us, Lincoln found a
unique and positive means of destroying his enemies, by making them his
friends.
Who are your enemies? Are they your business competitors?
Or, maybe even those you work with? Either way, you may be able to gain
victory over them the Lincoln way — by
making them your friends. Consider the alternative; can you possibly
destroy an enemy in the traditional sense without igniting animosity
from your enemy's allies?
Why not consider
this clever method of destroying your enemies this week? What better
way could there be to celebrate Lincoln's birthday?
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In Marketing
. . .
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You've no doubt heard the term "co-oppetition,"
coined by authors Brandenburger and Nalebuff, academics from the Harvard Business School and the Yale
School of Management. Co-oppetition means to engage in selective
cooperation between competitors, a business practice becoming common in
this new millennium. Although the authors actively employ mathematical
game theory to make their argument, one could argue that Lincoln employed the
principles underlying co- oppetition many years before mathematical
game theory had been postulated. Even Lincoln's approach to
handling enemies was not his own, but rather adapted from the Bible
("Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give
him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his
head." — Romans 12:20, King James version).
Here is a recent co-opetition example. Since last
November, Amazon.com and Borders partnered together so that customers
will have the option of picking up their online purchases at Borders
stores nationwide. As customers select items for purchase on Amazon.com
or Borders.com, they now have the option to pick up their selection
from a nearby Borders store. Says Amazon.com vice-president of partner
relationships Eric Broussard, "We're always looking for ways to
give customers more delivery options, and this alliance with Borders
gives customers the opportunity to pick up a best-selling book, music
CD or movie the same day they buy online and benefit from the
convenience of fast, easy pickup at their local store," said Eric
Broussard. Customers win too; items ordered online for pick up at
Borders stores will be sold at the national Borders store price, or local store price, if lower,
with applicable state and local sales tax added, but no shipping charges included.
Both companies benefit from increased customer satisfaction and from
strategic revenue sharing; purchases are recorded as sales by Borders
with Amazon.com receiving a commission. As an added convenience for
online shoppers, returns on these items will be accepted at Borders stores.
To
learn more about applying the Lincolnesque principles of co-oppetition
in your sales and marketing endeavors, consider reading the book Co-Opetition
or listening to the Co-Opetition
Audio, both by Brandenburger and Nalebuff. It could revolutionize
your business, just as it is doing for many others who destroy their business
enemies through strategic partnerships.
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In
Speaking . . .
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As a
matter of good sense, it is always easier to talk directly about
difficult subjects before they become personally applicable, either to
you or to those who are hearing your message. When you are newly
assigned to a leadership position, take that inevitable first-meeting
moment to offer positive conflict resolution before adversarial
conflicts crop up. The more difficult, mission critical, or time
sensitive the task, the more likely it is that conflict — and,
potentially, enemies — will arise. Use this opportunity to give them
fair warning of that inevitability, then recommend the Lincoln approach
to destroying those enemies — by making them into friends.
Themes
to which this quote may apply include,
Attitudes, Positive Thinking, Developing Character, Dealing with
Humanity, Improving Communication Skills, Biography (Lincoln's Birthday),
Business and Management Ethics, Business Strategy, Handling Enemies,
Forgiveness, Approaches to Evangelism, and Personal Relationships.
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In Writing . . .
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When
someone confides in you, sharing their pain or anguish about a boss, a
subordinate, or other workplace associate who appears to be working
against them, what words should you type in your reply? In a spirit of
empathy, it is all too easy to recommend tactics that support your
friend's burning desire to get even. This week, celebrate Lincoln's birthday by
recommending his radical but effective way of handling enemies — by
applying the soothing salve of overwhelming kindness that "heaps
hot coals" of guilt on the head of your friend's enemy, and may
even kill the enemy by creating a friend.
See the last paragraph under "In Speaking . . ."
for other themes that can benefit from using Lincoln's quote.
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Beyond the
Workplace . . .
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Lincoln's
centuries-old question is an encouragement to anyone who feels they
have enemies. This surely includes you and me. To my experience, the
only people with no personal enemies are those who do nothing, express
nothing, or be nothing. There is no such thing as an opinion that has
no adversaries. The mere expression of a thought can create enemies.
Does this mean we should retreat - that we should become reclusive, to
avoid creating enemies? While that may have appeal during moments of
despair or depression, it is obviously not a realistic solution for a
member of the human species, socially dependent as we are upon one
another for survival.
Certainly
you may not always succeed in destroying enemies by making friends of
them, as Abraham Lincoln recommends we try. You may nonetheless have
more success with honey than with vinegar — with kindness instead of
vindictiveness — when overcoming problems with your neighbor or someone
from another hard-to-avoid social circle. Even if you don't succeed in
turning your enemies into friends by "heaping hot coals (of
guilt)" upon their head with your kindness and compassion, at
least you will sleep better, knowing you did not lower yourself to
their level. In honor of President Lincoln's birthday this week, choose
the high road by doing all you can to make friends of your enemies.
Here
is a related piece of advice that Lincoln gave,
particularly useful to those with children; "He will have to
learn, I know, that all people are not just — that all men and women
are not true. Teach him that for every scoundrel there is a hero that
for every enemy there is a friend. Let him learn early that the bullies
are the easiest people to lick."
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What is
Your Favorite Quote?
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Here are some quotes I'd like to share with you given me
by readers of this newsletter — quotes that have served them
inspirationally in the workplace or that have been valuable and they're
speaking in writing.
This
quote was sent in by reader Bob S. "The Presidency is not merely
an administrative office. That's the least of it. It is more than an
engineering job, efficient or inefficient. It is preeminently a place
of moral leadership. All our great Presidents were leaders of thought
at times when certain historic ideas in the life of the nation had to
be clarified." These words from Franklin D. Roosevelt, not only
apply to those who came before him, such as Abraham Lincoln, but
perhaps even more so to the actions of more recent politicians. It's a
healthy reminder for anyone in a position of high leadership. Thank
you, Bob.
This
next one came in to us anonymously. If you have a good sense of humor,
then you can recognize its value, perhaps even in a business setting.
"These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have
others." — Groucho Marx. Enjoy it personally. Employ it carefully.
:8^)
The
last two quotes on education come from reader Sheila B. They should be
of value to educators, parents, and also those who train subordinates
and associates as part of their job. The first one: "All of life
is education and everybody is a teacher and everybody is forever a
pupil." — Abraham Maslow. The second one: "We adults destroy
most of the intellectual and creative capacity of children by the
things we do to them or make them do. We destroy this capacity above
all by making them afraid." — John Holt.
If
there is a quote that has served you inspirationally in the workplace
or has been valuable in your speech or in writing, write and tell us about
it. We may feature your quote in a future issue to
inspire others. Also, please write
and tell us how our weekly quotes have enhanced your writing and
speaking. Your feedback helps us tailor our quote selections to your
needs and often inspires others as well.
Thanks,
from the Writing that Works
staff:
Ric Moxley (Editor) , Donna
Cornelius (Contributing Editor),
Jim Moxley (Copy Editor), and Phyllis Moxley (Proofreader, Copy Editor)
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Let
WriteWorks Help
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