"(Gorbachev's) remarks in Prague seemed to me, to say the least, of doubtful validity. Yet nor should they be lightly dismissed."
This was a quote from Thatcher's book "Statecraft," on page 8.
The point she was making concerning the comments of Gorbachev, were that he was doing what many in our day continue to do, and that was to promote the communism/socialism agenda, and then when they miserably fail, "take credit for being more pragmatic, modern, and insightful about the world which those who actually fought communism have created."
She went on to say that "It is a pressing necessity to expose and defeat both distortions." That reality confronts us to this day, as the triumph of capitalism is still being treated like it's not a foregone conclusion, and those going that route trying to make it look like some type of unique thing they've done by developing some type of socialist/capitalist way of life.
I think of China when I say this, which continues to pretend they're operationally socialist, when in reality they're capitalist to the core in their economy.
We in business need to understand that we're still in a big battle for the minds of people, as the defeated, but ongoing attempts to make capitalism and business look like it's a failure continues to be one of the themes of mainstream media, which for some reason, has overall chosen to make business owners out as despicable in many ways.
Of course the underlying reason for this is it gains eyeballs and ears whenever tough times happen that attempt to make it look like some "business crook" is the problem behind the tough times, rather than many of the failed government policies, which are in effect: socialist in nature.
As Thatcher rightly noted, we can't give up battling against the ongoing, pervasive socialist ideas that seem to always emerge as a hydra, which when one is killed, another seems to take its place. The winning of the cold war, led by Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, which forever revealed the defeated and cancerous underbelly of communisim and socialism, shows that while the killing blow has already been struck, we must be vigilant to remind people always and everywhere of that fact.
A secondary point in writing this is to understand in our businesses that we must always remain true and fight for our brand, as competitors and activists with agendas continue to hammer at it in order to manipulate companies, and in some cases, extort companies, to voice their approval of their organization and purpose.
Don't underestimate that we're in a battle for our brand and purpose as a business, and how we fight that battle will determine the long term success of our companies.
As Margaret Thatcher said, don't underestimate those who spin and attempt to make it look like what you may have accomplished was in fact done by them. People aren't as smart as we may think they are, and can be manipulated over a period of time if we allow some things to go unanswered.
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
Remember to Sign up for my feed
Sponsored link: The outsourcing every manager requires - Tampa Locksmith
Comment Preview