Protect your clients and save yourself

When in business one lays down some ground rules. One makes sure to have a safe environment to work in, both physically and emotionally. The world is full of lawyers and rules, some rules which make little sense today because they are historical relics while others invite ridicule.

When working with customers one tends to think about what could go wrong, usually from both points of view, yours and theirs. This looking out for the next person or the pitfalls which may never occur has a basis found in many places in the Torah and this week's parsha is just one example.

In 22:8 we see this:

8. When you build a new house, you shall make a guard rail for your roof, so that you shall not cause blood [to be spilled] in your house, that the one who falls should fall from it [the roof].

ח. כִּי תִבְנֶה בַּיִת חָדָשׁ וְעָשִׂיתָ מַעֲקֶה לְגַגֶּךָ וְלֹא תָשִׂים דָּמִים בְּבֵיתֶךָ כִּי יִפֹּל הַנֹּפֵל מִמֶּנּוּ:

Moshe told the people about this law...and they have been wandering in the desert for 40 years and had no roofs yet. A great example of why it says "when you will build a new house" that it is forward thinking. Hashem was looking out for people, on your behalf.

Since we know everything in life has a purpose, even though we do not comprehend it at the time, what are we learning from this. One explanation is that Hashem did not want us to be the downfall of someone else through his means. If you were destined to die, it would not be helpful to your friends or anyone that you die on their land. Adding extra protection to something that seems out of the ordinary would save even one life, and your own reputation, makes it worth it. 

When we look at everything our client is trying to do, we aim to not just complete our project but along the way safe guard them a little bit ore where possible because that little bit extra can go along way in saving someone's life or reputation later.

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Parsha Ki Teitzei in the book of Devarim, Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19 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 a business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom

Who Lost the Account?

 There is no "I" in team but it sure seems like there is a he/she or they. Blaming someone for the bad things that happen in business is never a good idea, usually you need to work with those people again.

But if you are the manager, what do you do? Do you take the word of one person or do you seek out other input? Do you go with your instinct or perceptions or do you ignore it entirely?

Every case is different obviously but what is not different is when you only hear from one person about someone else. The implication is possibly quite the opposite of what you are told. People may not get along, maybe there was a mistake made, it happens although some people never let these things go.

In this week's parsha, 17:6 and later in 19:15 a famous line is told by Moshe:

6. By the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall the one liable to death be put to death; he shall not be put to death by the mouth of one witness.

ו. עַל פִּי | שְׁנַיִם עֵדִים אוֹ שְׁלשָׁה עֵדִים יוּמַת הַמֵּת לֹא יוּמַת עַל פִּי עֵד אֶחָד:

15. One witness shall not rise up against any person for any iniquity or for any sin, regarding any sin that he will sin. By the mouth of two witnesses, or by the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be confirmed.

טו. לֹא יָקוּם עֵד אֶחָד בְּאִישׁ לְכָל עָו‍ֹן וּלְכָל חַטָּאת בְּכָל חֵטְא אֲשֶׁר יֶחֱטָא עַל פִּי | שְׁנֵי עֵדִים אוֹ עַל פִּי שְׁלשָׁה עֵדִים יָקוּם דָּבָר:

Sure a bit extreme, death is not a business mistake, but the premise is the same. If everyone says Joe lost the account, well, it probably is true. If one person says it, maybe he did and maybe he didn't.

When you hire people, do you get one or 2 references or look for an army of them? Hopefully you give the benefit of the doubt.
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Parsha Shoftim in the book of Devarim, Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 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 a business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom

False Prophets in Executive Skins

In my day job I have encountered numerous executives, some of which have been examples of great leadership, honesty and integrity and others, not so much.

What usually differentiates the two is something rather simple really, the former are open to ideas, the latter tell you what is going to happen why and how and why, usually followed by "because I said so".

If you think about something from your business, maybe a vendor you use, a car service, an email program or a coffee machine, you see how this can happen.

Do we need a new coffee machine? If so, why and what should it do? Compare this to the other executive that says I hate coffee or I want a Bean3000 machine and nothing else will do. Which do you think is the better way?

As one gets deeper into the business side this rears its ugly head even further. But cheer up as the torah thought of this and elaborates on what to do.

In 13:2-4 the parsha lays out how to know when a false prophet, or a new executive or leader can be found out.

2. If there will arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of a dream, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,		ב. כִּי יָקוּם בְּקִרְבְּךָ נָבִיא אוֹ חֹלֵם חֲלוֹם וְנָתַן אֵלֶיךָ אוֹת אוֹ מוֹפֵת:
3. and the sign or the wonder of which he spoke to you happens, [and he] says, "Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us worship them,"		ג. וּבָא הָאוֹת וְהַמּוֹפֵת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֵלֶיךָ לֵאמֹר נֵלְכָה אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא יְדַעְתָּם וְנָעָבְדֵם:
4. you shall not heed the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of a dream; for the Lord, your God, is testing you, to know whether you really love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul.		ד. לֹא תִשְׁמַע אֶל דִּבְרֵי הַנָּבִיא הַהוּא אוֹ אֶל חוֹלֵם הַחֲלוֹם הַהוּא כִּי מְנַסֶּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֶתְכֶם לָדַעַת הֲיִשְׁכֶם אֹהֲבִים אֶת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם בְּכָל לְבַבְכֶם וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁכֶם:

Naturally you can not just fire your boss, however much you want to do so. But if you are on the look out you can see the signs and know that following them may not be in your best interest.

Politics at work is one thing, but claiming to know the right way forward when no one knows the future is just run on many levels.
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Parsha Re'eh in the book of Devarim, Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17
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 a business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom