The Bragging Demons of Business

When you look around in business and want to emulate others, how do you decide who to emulate? Is it a business tycoon? Sports coach? Movie or TV star (their real life or portrayed character)? Author? Politician?

Do you emulate the good and the bad parts? We try not to, but as an example take Steve Jobs. He could only accomplish what he wanted by being very demanding in a way few people would accept from anyone. Yet he is one of the people most influential on other s in life and business.

But what if all of this is wasted? Maybe it's a great idea today, but not tomorrow, to emulate these people.

In the parsha this week, which is the song of Haazinu, Moshe elaborates on what leads people astray. He put it very well in 32:17-18:

17. They sacrificed to demons, which have no power, deities they did not know, new things that only recently came, which your forefathers did not fear.

יז. יִזְבְּחוּ לַשֵּׁדִים לֹא אֱלֹהַּ אֱלֹהִים לֹא יְדָעוּם חֲדָשִׁים מִקָּרֹב בָּאוּ לֹא שְׂעָרוּם אֲבֹתֵיכֶם:

18. You forgot the [Mighty] Rock Who bore you; you forgot the God Who delivered you.

יח. צוּר יְלָדְךָ תֶּשִׁי וַתִּשְׁכַּח אֵל מְחֹלְלֶךָ:

The idea that following other gods or demons and be in love with the newest "thing" was not a good trait to have in a person. Forgetting your God or your parents and family, is not the best way.

Who would think that 3,000 years ago the problem of people chasing after the latest thing already existed? Can you imagine someone in a tent or make shift building saying they were going out to buy the newest idol because their old one was still okay just not new?

Often times I wonder what brilliance people think they will gain by getting the haircut of a movie star or the latest gadget. When I was younger we wanted to get bragging rights over our friends for somethings we did but as I got older that seemed pretty pointless. Evidently, not everyone came to the same conclusion that i did or the Torah did.

Aspire to greatness, acquire knowledge so you are not ignorant, share what you learn so others may benefit.
Shana Tova and Leshana Haba Beyerushalayim
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Parsha Haazinu in the book of Devarim, Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52 It is said that the Torah or Bible
could be interpreted in over 70 ways. More likely these days 100's of ways. In light of this idea, I am writing some posts that bring  business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom