It's Not Always Right to Be Right

Chapter 5It's Not Always Right to be Right

There are some people who like to win. Every single time.

In their minds, there is always a winner and there is always a loser. They like to control every situation and they like the power that goes with it. They need to win every single argument, discussion and debate, regardless of how big, small, important or insignificant.

As American writer and public intellectual Gore Vidal said, ‘The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so’.

Deep down, very few of us like these people. They are annoying.

At times, I have been that person.

It does not make me proud.

THE MESSAGE

I hope my tone for this chapter is slightly different from that of the others. Different because this topic is of utmost importance. It is the premise for the entire book.

It's a concept that I have struggled with on numerous occasions throughout my career. Additionally, I have witnessed many other people, at all levels, wrestle with the notion. It frustrates, confuses, annoys and distracts them. Worse still, it affects and damages relationships beyond repair, which is what concerns me.

Let me explain.

There are multiple times when you present a view or a position to another party and you get shot down for it. This hurts. It hurts even more when you genuinely believe that your position is the right one and yet, somehow, the other party still does not agree.

If the pain just stopped there, we could accept it. We feel mild frustration, yet no ...