A child is born as an open book – as innocent as they come! Slowly it is fed the ways of the world – a world of make-believe where the rules of fair-play are increasingly getting outdated! One is forced to learn the life-smarts earlier as the days go by. Then the marketing wizards’ words of wisdom are lapped-up to get ahead of the pack. Success depends on how you position yourself or the product. One can outsmart a quality product with a dud, with the right marketing strategy! Bottom line is, the public are gullible, can be taken for a ride!
Why, even writing this article! At least, some will hesitate to admit money is the bottom-line! Of course, it may not be the be-all & the end-all for some like me, but it does matter & to make a living or at least to get some returns for the efforts! When people do admit openly their intentions, it does touch our hearts, as it is not the norm!
The age-span to remain innocent is getting shorter! When a world beauty contestant was unconvincing in her answers, even a child of five will say – she should have just said she would work & fight for world peace for the rest of her life, it would have easily landed her the title! Any further questions can be check-mated with ready back-up of cut & paste answers!
Is hypocrisy really a factor for success? Many biggies in Wall Street think so! It was revealed during the recent financial collapse that most had Codes of Ethics that rivaled the exalted piety expected & enshrined in religious books to reach God – Customers’ interests are paramount, it is the reason for our business, will comply with the letter & spirit of law etc! But they hawked their products to clients while betting their money that they would lose! No better explanation needed to explain hypocrisy in the business world, accepted as the norm even at the highest levels!
The all empowering goal for material pursuits where success is valued by having the latest gadgets etc have ensnared even those who abhorred hypocrisy at first but got into the race like a duck to water in no time! But the cover will be blown sooner or later as we try endlessly to impress people who we hardly know or care! The void in our lives could come too late for damage control!
Greed begets greed! Leading financial institutions offer millions as sign-in bonus to net those with contacts, as a quick-fix to get higher in the ladder and leap-frog over existing players, knowing full well that such people will do the same to them sooner or later. The days of staying for the long run are passé – another head-hunt, it is another quick exit! In fact, these head-hunters put the original species to shame & they have no qualms to encourage quicker turnover for their benefit! This in & outs are replicated even in our family lives when things get sticky! No hesitation in heading for the exit as an easy way out!
Our old-time heroes stuck it out even when the going was hopeless! Now we do not have any such heroes except those who hit the highs in the rich lists! Those who spend their lives working to uplift the poor & the downtrodden are treated as weird, wasting their lives in the sense they are hardly seen as worthy to be emulated! They are still admired from a distance but not as role models to be followed!
Our conscience should be the guide & master but those who stand by it are assaulted by realities of a fast-paced life. As long as financial success is achieved, one is feted & held as a role model. Even religious institutions need them more than others to survive and donations are made for publicity to make them out as honorable.
Hypocrisy has become an accepted human trait. Of course, it is not inborn but imbibed & encouraged as a tool to get ahead in our lives! The basic value systems are under assault more & more! The cover is blown often but is soon forgotten and is back to square-one!
