CHAPTER 5
Resisting the Siren Song
“If I beseech and bid you to set me free, then do ye straiten me with yet more bonds.”
—HOMER, THE ODYSSEY1
Odysseus’s response to the Siren Song was simple but effective. He anticipated the temptation and made preparations. He commanded that all his crew plug their ears with beeswax to deafen them to the song. At the same time, he had them tie him to the mast—no matter what, he ordered, leave him there until they were safely out of earshot. His strategy saved him.
Resisting the distractions and temptations of modern day Siren Songs requires a similar approach. It requires awareness: recognizing the Sirens as described in the previous chapter is the critical first step, and it requires the right mindset and ...
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