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There’s a Log in Your Eye
In today’s culture, it seems as if everyone is hyperfocused on our own self-importance. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter encourage us to plaster the internet with posts extolling our greatness with no regard for the reality of our circumstances or the effect we might have on others. Politicians on both sides of the fence spout vitriol on TV and shamelessly act like little children who only want their own way. It’s easy to blame millennials, rampant materialism, or Hollywood, but I think it’s more complicated than that. The other day, while meandering around Barnes & Noble, I came across a book that brought some clarity to this current American dilemma. It helped me refine some aspects of my own personal philosophy. It’s called “Ego Is the Enemy” by Ryan Holiday. Throughout the book, Holiday argues that the root cause of our individual and collective struggles come down to the ego. He defines the idea of ego as an “unhealthy belief in our own importance,” accompanied by “arrogance” and “self-centered ambition.” He writes, “It’s that petulant child inside every person, the one who chooses getting his own way over anything or anyone else.” It’s the “need to be better than, more than, recognized for, far past any reasonable utility.” Though he concedes that “most of us aren’t egomaniacs,” he believes that “ego is at the root of almost every conceivable RYAN HOLIDAY’S ‘EGO IS THE ENEMY’
problem and obstacle, from why we can’t win to why we need to win all the time and at the expense of others.” But, at least to me, possibly the worst part about letting ego run rampant is that it distances us from one another by putting up walls created by comparison. In one passage that resonated with me as a man of faith, Holiday writes that Christians believe that pride is a sin because it is a lie; it convinces people that they are better
did everything I could to prove to myself and others how successful I was because, back then, I guess I didn’t really believe it. But now,
after many years of hard lessons, actively seeking wisdom, and becoming a disciple of Christ, I understand that what I used to think of as confidence wasn’t really confidence at all — it was egotistical fragility. But, at least to me, possibly the worst part about letting ego run rampant is that it distances us from one another ... ” Reading “Ego is the Enemy” was a valuable stepping stone on my journey toward maturity. Of course, I’m not about to tell anyone else what to do; I still struggle with these issues every day. In the Bible, Jesus says “... first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5. I’ve found that when I follow this advice, I have so much work to do that I don’t even notice anyone else’s speck!
than they are and better than God made them. Pride leads to arrogance and away from humility and connection with our fellow man. It magnifies the confidence we have in our beliefs to the point where we’re
unable to consider another’s perspective, and a simple discussion can devolve into toxic name- calling at the drop of a hat. I found myself highlighting passage after passage as I read the book. I guess that means I have a lot to learn about this subject and a long way to go to rescue myself from my own inflated ego. For a while now, I’ve sought out ways to rein in my selfish instincts, so I guess that is why I grabbed this book. Looking back over my life, it’s apparent now that I spent a lot of time caught in the throes of my own ego. I used to tick off arbitrary “accomplishment” boxes to appear important in my own eyes. I
–Brad Johnson
President, Risk Services of AR Specialized Insurance Programs for Specialized Industries. • www.insurica.com • 1
I f you grew up in an ordinary, middle-class neighborhood on Long Island, proceeded to found an investment firm out of your apartment in NYC, and went on to make more money for your clients than any other hedge fund in the history of the industry, you would assume there was something uniquely special about
IS IT POSSIBLE TO ALIGN BUSINESS WITH VALUES?
you, right? Not according to Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates and one of the most successful — and influential, as 2012’s Time magazine attests — men in the world. He’ll be the first to tell you that there’s no secret to his genius. Just open his book and memorize the 200-plus “Principles” he honed over
This CompanyThinks So
A number of high-profile businesses have made the news recently for their values-based decisions. This kind of decision-making brings up an interesting question: Can you promote your values through the way you do business? Take Row 7, a seed company founded by Dan Barber, a chef; Matthew Goldfarb, an organic seed grower; and Michael Mazourek, a professor of plant breeding and genetics. By cultivating a new brand of seeds that are grown for flavor, the company wants to change the way we think about food. Row 7 hopes they can produce seeds that will grow into produce that grocery stores like Walmart will carry. The three men care a lot about food and how it’s grown. The first episode of Netflix’s “Chef ’s Table” follows Barber from farm to table as he hand-selects the ingredients he’ll be cooking with for that evening’s dinner. Traditionally, seed companies develop seeds with adaptability in mind, such as a potato that can be grown in Idaho and on the East Coast. They cultivate breeds with the furthest reach and highest profit margins — it’s a one-size- fits-all approach. With this method, you can get seeds that will grow anywhere, but you may not get much flavor from their produce. Think of the watery, flavorless tomatoes you often find on sandwiches or burgers at fast-food restaurants. Row 7 hopes to change the status quo by developing seeds that burst with flavor and nutrients. By collaborating with chefs and farmers, Barber hopes to cultivate the flavorful foods that people want. Row 7 targets an audience of people who enjoy good-tasting food — in other words, all of us. The company hopes to capitalize on intrepid farmers who’ve been overlooked by the large seed companies and work with them to breed plants for flavor. Row 7’s seeds are all organic and have not been genetically modified. Not only will these plants add much-needed biodiversity back into the seed world, they’ll also grow into more nutritious food. “The goal of the company is not only to increase the flavor of vegetables, it’s to look at how we, as chefs, can change the culture of eating,” says Barber. We’ll have to wait and see what Row 7’s success looks like, as the company was only unveiled this year. Row 7’s goal to change the food culture in America is not in conflict with their goal to be in Walmart, and that’s pretty radical.
his career. Dalio believes these are the real reason he stands in such a prominent position today. Trust in Radical Truth and Radical Transparency Since its publication last year, Dalio’s book has risen to No. 5 on Amazon’s charts, become a No. 1 New York Times best seller, and been touted as revolutionary by some of the most successful businesspeople of our time. It’s a thick volume of just under 600 pages but nonetheless compelling. Dalio’s dedication to the idea of openness in all things is evident through the organization of his life’s work into a detailed and actionable program. Recognize How to Get Beyond Disagreements Dalio’s transparency extends to creating an open forum for disagreement. In an earlier 2011 draft of Dalio’s “Principles,” he wrote of the importance of “creat[ing] an environment in which everyone has the right to understand what makes sense and no one has the right to hold a critical opinion without speaking up about it.” employees describe “public hangings” of those who don’t rigorously follow Dalio’s rules and meetings that sometimes stretch for hours due to disagreements about a single item on the agenda. But Dalio argues that creating this fluid back-and-forth is a vital component of a healthy organization. Systematize the Decision-Making Process Aside from his trademark transparency and sometimes brutal honesty, “Principles” has one thread that runs through the whole book: Everything can and should be boiled down and understood with a simple system. By acknowledging how reality operates, you can transform your business and achieve clarity in every aspect of your life. From the outside, it might seem that such an uncompromisingly honest vision would create problems. After all, Bridgewater
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DO YOUR PART TO CURB INATTENTIVE DRIVERS When You Drive Distracted, Insurance Premiums Skyrocket
Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving claimed as many as 3,477 lives in 2015 alone. When you expand that number to include nonfatal injuries, it climbs to an incredible 391,000. In the same report, the NHTSA writes that an estimated 660,000 drivers use electronic devices while driving. It’s easy to see the correlation there, and with some careful attention, any ordinary person can do their part to curb this disturbing trend. Teach your kids and peers about the dangers of even the most seemingly innocuous distracted behaviors. If you’re a passenger, remind the driver if they have a lapse in attention. You can even contact your state legislature to encourage them to enact laws against texting, talking on a cellphone, or engaging in other distracting behaviors while behind the wheel. Together, we can do our part to drive down those climbing accident numbers and make the road a safer place. These efforts might seem small, but if you save even one life through attentive driving, it will be worth it. Sudoku
Over the past few years, car insurance rates have skyrocketed. According to one report, from 2011–2015, rates increased by an average of 20 percent. Today, the average premium is a whopping $1,427 and continues to climb. The question is: Why? There are several components, and many of them are completely out of most consumers’ control. As oil prices have plummeted in recent years and the job market has improved, more people are hitting the road with new vehicles. Naturally, this results in a higher frequency of accidents, often with increased severity. In addition, most cars today come equipped with a variety of technological advances, which raises the prices of cars and the insurance premiums that protect them. But there’s one much more insidious factor that is contributing to this rise: distracted driving. With nearly everyone packing a smartphone with them on their daily commute, fiddling with their music, checking email, and messaging friends in traffic, the road is more dangerous than ever before. According to the National Highway
Have a Laugh!
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INSIDE This Issue
Why ‘Ego Is the Enemy’ page 1
Are Values the Antithesis of Profit? The Radical Transparency of Ray Dalio’s ‘Principles’ page 2 Driving Distracted? Expect Higher Premiums Sudoku page 3
3 Common-Risk Categories page 4
KEEP YOUR BUSINESS SAFE
FromThese Common-Risk Categories
liability to your company. You should adopt a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination and harassment. Employees and job candidates should be judged on their work and qualifications, not their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation. It’s also a good idea to establish conflict- resolution procedures so that a disgruntled employee’s first recourse isn’t to call a lawyer. THEFT Loss-prevention analysis is a huge segment of the risk- assessment industry. All companies that deal with goods, and even most that don’t, have to deal with shrinkage. If you don’t know where you’re losing supplies, you’ll never be able to cut down on the amount of items that go missing. You should perform regular inventory of all company-owned materials, ensuring that you catch any stolen items early. Good luck getting back stolen property that’s been missing for months. The best way to guarantee that your risk management is up to speed is a comprehensive risk assessment. Call us today at 501.666.6653 to schedule a consultation tailored to the specific needs of your business.
Running a business can be, ahem , risky business. If you’re not mindful of all the potential liabilities within your company, you could end up battling for your livelihood in court. Losses come in many shapes and sizes, some of which are specific to particular industries. The following three categories of risk, however, are universal concerns. Is your business exposed to any of them? HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS Expecting employees to work in a dangerous environment is a surefire way to get slapped with a lawsuit. Government agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have strict guidelines regarding what constitutes a safe workplace. Any equipment you use should be properly inspected, hazardous materials must be labelled as such, and dangerous chemicals need to be properly stored. Any employee working with heightened risk factors needs to be trained on how to perform their job safely. BAD PRACTICES While they may not be as physically dangerous as exposed wires, unethical business practices can pose just as much of a
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