One lesson I’ve learned through several years in business is that stories have a way of mirroring and inverting. In other words, the truth (especially when someone is accusing another of wrongdoing) can often reflect the actions of the accuser — and any action, either negative or positive, often results some time in the future of a parallel action or circumstance, just reversed.
In the most recent real-life case of this process, someone dared to post on one of the Google Help forums that Google was scamming him by failing to pay for advertising purportedly sold through his sites. After a cursory check, I posted a response suggesting the inversion rule applies. On one level, this proved to be a big mistake, as the criminal went on an attack against my own business which consumed a couple of weeks energy and stress. On a second level, however, I didn’t suffer any lasting damage and proved the inversion theory in practice.
Another example of this dynamic is the competitive intelligence lawsuit currently before the courts where Reed Construction Data accuses McGraw-Hill of fraudulently stealing data and information for its construction information services. Look back a decade to 2000, and you can see reports of a similar lawsuit, but this time the plaintiff and defendant are reversed.
These observations correlate in an inverse sort of way with the “Golden Rule” or principle of reciprocity. So you sow, so you reap. Actions cause reactions. If you are good, others are good to you. If you are bad, others are bad.
I’m sure a scientist might mutter that these observations are based on impression rather than science, but I’ve seen the principles apply far too often for me not to consider their importance and relevance in your business and construction marketing strategies.
I use these insights every day in my business in evaluating character, opportunities and circumstances.
If someone says strong things which just don’t seem to match my understandings, I default to the “inversion” assumption; and turn the story back on the person making the assertions.
I remember every deed, action, or behavior has a consequence and that consequence will usually some time down the road be a mirror or the original action. So I try to be good, respectful and fair and when I screw up, I own up to my mistakes.
This is not the fast way to wealth, but I expect the wealth that I create this way is far more lasting and valuable.
And there is another advantage. The people around me in my personal and business life generally mirror me. For obvious reasons, this is a rather satisfying way to live.
