"Nothing is more obstinate than a fashionable consensus."
One thing to learn as a business leader, that is possibly one of the most important thoughts you could embrace, is the resistance to the power of consensus.
It might surprise some of you to know that one of the most consensus oriented group of people are activists. They are also some of the most ruthless and hateful. Go against their pet agendas and you better be ready for a battle. Having said that, we do need to be ready.
Already many in business are embracing concepts and ideas that may be destructive over the long run for their businesses based upon media coverage of activists that don't necessarily know facts at all, but are experts and marketing and manipulation. They know how to temporarily sway public opinion over short periods of time in order to get their agendas accepted.
The reason I use activism as a model, is because much of what is being covered today comes from these seemingly endless numbers of group across just as many different interests.
As Margaret Thatcher said, fashionable consensus is very obstinate, and in reality that may in today's climate be now an understatement.
I've been watching for some time now a lot of businesses giving in to these special interest groups as they simply adapt their ideas as if they're holy writ. This will end up hurting businesses in the long run, as they lose sight of their purpose and attempt to "change the world" into the likeness of these people with too much time on their hands.
Be careful not to get caught up in these short-term whirlwinds that come at us all the time. We are in business to be profitable while providing great products or services for our customers. That's what our focus needs to be on, not on every little nitpicking group that asserts the world will end if their agenda isn't embraced by you.
They will also attempt to manipulate you through guilt. Think of the buffoon Al Gore and his global warming hoax. Him and his allies are increasingly pressing people to take steps to do something, because he knows if we let things go on for years, he'll be proven as dumb as he is. That's the reason you hear the rants increasing on how the world is about to end from these nuts.
The point is to stick to your business, resist the "fashionable consensus," and focus on what the purpose of your business is. The world isn't going to end, no matter what these irresponsible, factless people say.
Margaret Thatcher Resources:
The Best Quotes From Margaret Thatcher's 'Statecraft'
Margaret Thatcher & the Revival of the West
Interview with Margaret Thatcher
Magaret Thatcher's Life in the Shadows
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