by Richard A. Cheatham, Press Media Group, LLC

Make it a practice to slow down, step back and check on your fundamentals. I was in a meeting this morning where many made presentations with lots of data and details, talking about processes and methods. One present commented on a presentation saying it was excellent, but that the reasons for the process must not get lost in the complexity.

I’m the last person to favor the position “the end justifies the means.” I know corrupting your means will always get you corrupted ends.

However, your goals, your values, your fundamentals must also never be sacrificed or forgotten with too great a focus upon process. One of the great tragedies in contemporary America is that we too often get focused upon either the ends or the means, subordinating the other.

While I often talk about the importance of keeping methods and processes in order, I speak here about the importance of never, never losing sight of ends. So much of our contemporary life is about details. Our lives often become bewilderingly complex.

It’s so important to remember why we struggle with all this complexity. There’s always a why. Isn’t that one of the big questions in life...why? Before you do anything, you’d better be clear on the answer to that one.

In a free society, the answer “because my boss or my leader told me to” is not enough. One must also then ask “why must or should this leader be obeyed.” You have some control of your life by asking this question. And without control of your life, what do you really have at all?

Just as many evil things are done by those who follow the “end justifies the means” illusion, so too there are many evil things done by those who’ve lost their bearings in a sea of details, policy and other data.

Here’s some homework. Try to find a quiet moment within your busy life. Write down your most important values. Then make a list of your projects that support those values. Keep those lists, updating them periodically and see how well your daily activities support and advance those values and projects. If your busy life doesn’t match the list, then FIX IT!

Too many Americans, following the guidance (translate that as manipulation) of political “leaders” interested in their own often hidden personal agendas and values, have been lured into projects and activities that are totally at odds with their values. They’ve worked for tyranny when they’ve wanted liberty. They’ve worked for special interests when they’ve wanted prosperity for all. They’ve worked for death and destruction when they wanted tolerance, friendship and peace. They’ve worked for the benefit of a small elite when they wanted universal benefit.

Take the time! Think about the possible consequences of your actions! No everyone shoving details and process down your throat shares your unique values.

©2006 by Richard A. Cheatham. All rights reserved. Mr.Cheatham is a professional speaker/writer and is syndicated through Press Media Group, LLC. Contact him through, Living History Assoc., Ltd., at www.LHALtd.com or DrawBackVeil@aol.com.