Accounting and Business can bring some terrific viewpoints through experience, observation and evaluation. I have some very successful clients. Without exception their successes are not accidental but rather guided by strong hands. Any business owner can attest to having had to be one tough son of a bitch to become successful and more so to maintain it. Those that do maintain success become powerful. Indeed, one definition of power of the size of the sphere of influence that can be exerted. Successful businesses can and do exert their sphere of influence. This can be see in their market share, pricing and trend influence and in DC their lobbying. Power exerted in a good direction helps many so I am not at all against the Powerful having influence. It's a perk for all that hard work. But to abuse power is of course something I rail against. It is all too common in corrupt societies and if you were looking for corruption, DC would serve.
Another definition though slightly techy is the speed at which particles move. The faster they move the more power there is. In an electric motor, particles move from one polarity to the other between terminals...ie positive and negative. Something often missed by casual viewers is the absolute necessity of something to keep the two terminals apart preventing collapsing. In the simplest terms, that is its base whereby a distance is held in place between positive and negative allowing for particle flow. This can spin a rod by varying on/off etc., and there you have it.
In human affairs, Power is likely to be considered the Right to Decide. The local Sheriff has power, the State Governor has Power, Senators, Congressman and the President and his men all have Power. This isn't necessarily bad though you would be right to think it is often abused. BUT, their is a key component that can free you in large part and ultimately completely from another's Power. The trick takes a strong will but in many circumstances that will rises from almost nowhere due to the threat at hand. This will exercises the REAL Power. That power is the individual's power of choice to Agree or Disagree. To be a slave and under the Dominion of another one must Agree to it. If disagreeing then the power is no longer effective. Surely you can poke holes in this saying their is little or no choice in many of life's situation and conditions. I disagree. There is always a choice and therein lays the real power. Is that easy? No. It can at a terrible price, even one's life.
How practical it is to exercise the power of choice to Agree or Disagree varies. It varies by what you consider important or what you love or by how much fear ha a hold on you. Religious folks are frequently reviled because they have less fear of man than of God, so to that degree they answer to the Power of God not Man. Communism exemplifies this in its relegating of religion to the junkyard in favor of State Atheism. That's good for keeping people afraid and under control. This is pretty much the way all unwanted Power operates. It can include making people become dependent upon the state rather than themselves. Sounds like the current Admin to me. But this writing is not about politics but YOU.
Want more Power? Than disagree when another or others try to have theirs over you. If you see benefit in agreement just make sure it is not giving up your choice and is fair to your survival. Businessmen and women do this everyday as they give and take power in a more or less friendly ways where everyone gets something in exchange. The application of this is vast.
Next time you feel powerless, ask yourself where you gave permission to this Power to have you under its Dominion. If the benefits seem OK then agree. If not, disagree. I think you will discover that the REAL power has always resided in you.
Best,
Donn Marier
DM-Your Own CFO