Modern Day Gladiators

For such a time as this.  . .  with worldwide challenges and a growing list of serious problems here in North America – it has an effect on all of us. In many respects, the chaos has become a way of life, and it easily overwhelms our ability to resolve challenges by distracting us.  Simultaneously, the breakneck speed that our work and others demands of us, can seriously discourage anyone from engaging the mind to think and reason and reflect.  It is within this realm of work – that I focus my attention upon as I write this article.  It’s astonishing, how our modern way of life – which incidentally was supposed to be made simpler by technology. Has in fact become more hectic and fast paced that takes away from the quality of life. The talking point in the 1960’s, was the promise that the changes were great because this was the new modern age of advancement. . . 

Of coarse change is often required to grow a society., and at times it can be vital, even a madder of life and death. However, what I am questioning is article is the kind of change that has occurred. Have the changes produced healthy and productive advances in our culture with thoughtful progress, rational thinking, and logic? Or have we progressed into a divisive and confrontational approach were whoever is the biggest, strongest and most cunning wins the ‘game’ ?  

 

In our so called modern culture,  incidentally thats what they thought in the 60’s . . .  changes continue unabated, like the law of gravity, it pulls us down, and these changes becomes a way of advancing divisiveness, anger and vitriol towards each other – like a gladiator. in a heated battle. This kind of change in our society and business cultures, does not create the kind of thinking to find solutions! Most importantly, when there is no standard or moral gauge by which to ascertain the fundamental reason for change and its intended goals, the consequence is not understood, and it leads to catastrophic consequences; the law of gravity doesn’t change. Eventually things change so drastically that it spurs even greater problems and then catches many off guard; with some are startled awake.

The Fast and Furious Pace in our Corporate world, What is it Producing?

One week seems to bleed into another, presenting a kind of normalcy, mirroring the day before.  Business and various activities move on as usual, and with the inevitable ups and downs that many have come to expect as ‘normal’. But as we pause and reflect upon our course in this proverbial rate race, there are serious warning signs. Much more than a subtle change here and there. Consider for example, how we use our knowledge and capabilities; our technology, our medicine, the science, etc.,. Many of these things have become tools in the hands of large companies and political motivations to influence or change without checks and balances; irrespective of personal choice. Unfortunately, we are discovering that many of these changes are driven by financial considerations, not well thought out, and certainly not morally driven. In fact, many such changes have produced very serious life and death consequences. To add insult to injury, there is a boldness present to ignore such consequences in favor of developing business systems that move away from any moral and conscientious driven process that seeks to rise above the status quo. 

The changes in our business world have also created a highly competitive way in which a business grows. The society in response becomes careless, with an emphasis on achieving the next ‘best’ thing; and it drives and supports a gladiatorial like ‘game’. We have become a hungry and aggressive people, eager to climb the proverbial ladder; yet many are lost in the process. Not realizing that they have traded something of far greater value. As this business approach moves toward a quest to acquire and control, it becomes an ironic twist of fate, that many who play this game loose their freedom to decide what they value,  It inevitably leads to a fight and in fact becomes gladiatorial like (men and women) and the longer they play this ‘game’ they become ensnared is vicious and seeks to destroy any individuality.

The Competition of Aggression and Domination is Empty

The astonishing thing is that wherever you look, you can see great division. If your employed in the corporate world, what do you see? Many get out of school and learn to become impetuous in order to play the game. They have to become deceptive and deceitful; selling, trading and producing their wares of corruption, and casting away values, truth and honor. The more you look, you see an undercutting of order and a marshaling of forces to separate, divide and concur. But this separation and attitude undercuts honesty and character for perceived gain of selling and trading skills ; particularly in warfare. They use  competence as a way to hurt and destroy and take what’s not theirs. Is it any wonder such a time as this advances such a divisive and unproductive toil and emptiness? Unfortunately, such business strategies and deceptive practices are leaving behind a wake of disastrous chaos and inability to reason and solve problems. . .  

By now, a responsible education system could have been established to teach every single child in elementary school, that  when human beings fight against each other; it encourages an increase in aggression, and does not resolve problems; in fact, emotions get in the way and it becomes worse. Problems do not get resolved with aggression or competition! Children must be taught to grow-up and become productive and capable of solving problems. They are not suppose to remain children in a sandbox all their lives! Unfortunately, many children have grown older, but they have not matured. Those that play this gladiatorial game are some of the most aggressive individuals in our business world – in some cases highly capable of doing good, but they value themselves   believing themselves more than others, and believe that it’s more important to be competent in destroying the competition, rather than coming together and deriving the best solutions for all concerned.  

As we consider our place within the global economy, and the lighting fast decisions that are made in regards to the bottom line, we must consider much more than the things that make for a successful business, we must develop a human centric focus. 

 

How is Success Determined?

Do you gauge your success based upon the tenants of business structures and economic prowess, or cunning capability? Do you value the ability to out-maneuver your perceived opponent and to cheat, or disparage, in order to acquire? Yet, many would acknowledge, these things do not produce good results. They acquiesce to the pressures of their piers, individual reasoning is not encouraged. This tends to undermine the game, and gets in the way of buying and selling. The problem is that the game is more akin to a Roman world of gladiators who kill each other. In the end of this game, is anyone standing? 

Our modern way of life in this age has come at an extraordinarily high cost to ourselves and to our children. We may not recognize it, or even care to consider the ramifications of such purchases, but the cost has been established, regardless if you think you have to pay or not.  Rather, we could learn to appreciate that true success comes from choosing a different path than the Gladiatorial game; move in a direction that advances critical thinking and solves problems not creating more and most certainly never seeking to destroy anyone. 

The Take Away:  

The infamous gladiator games that happened in Rome were cruel and vicious. A Roman gladiator was a trained fighter, often with a particular weapon, and sometimes clad with armor. These solders fought in what had become a kind of large scale ‘game’ in the round, men fighting against each other. These fights could lead to a painful, brutal and a vicious death. You learned to be vicious and do whatever you could to stay alive. . . It is said, the life of such gladiators was a mix bag of rock star like status, and slave. The irony is that our present society reflects this aggression and great divisiveness. . 

 

We must learn from history and observe such inanities that occurs around you.  When you reflect upon what can be learned, you can choose to take another approach; one in which you decide for yourself what you believe and value and become willing to live your life. 

The quality of our lives is not determined by power and fame, don’t believe me just read the obituaries. The quality of our lives is determined by how we use our talents to help others, and do a good work. Decide to be someone that can be trusted; create order, not chaos.

 

Those who seek to thrive in chaos, who love to control people, are often insecure. Such people need help to heal. The key is to recognize that we are all damaged in some way, and realize that we each have a responsibility to decide for ourselves.      

It’s possible that not every gladiator was a bad guy in those early days of the Roman amphitheater,  however, one thing is for sure; they got caught up in a game that in the end many regretted.  There has to be a higher standard in life that rises above just work. When everyone does what’s right in their own eyes, or creates their own rules, society crumbles! Much can be accomplished learning to contribute from the standpoint of developing a human-centric approach rather than treating people like machines – or gladiators!