Right Every Wrong, Don't Defend Wrongs!

Nothing more completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity himself, than straight forward and simple integrity in another.- Charles Caleb Colton

Sharing a piece I wrote for a business and lifestyle magazine titled "#RightEveryWrong, #DontDefendWrongs" after declining an invitation to become a spokesperson for a political party. I also shared the piece with all the politicians in that Party and other parties. They surely did not like what I wrote in the column for the magazine although I had not mentioned the Political Party's name (I was reprimanded and punished for writing the column and they got the magazine to stop publishing my columns), nor like the action of my declining their so called #LifetimeOpportunity.

In hindsight I am glad that I declined the offer as I abhor the huge duplicity, double speak and sugar coated talk in the human space. It's appalling and absolutely disgusting. Most (not all, but most) spokespeople of all parties use falsehood, duplicity, contradiction, half-truths and point fingers at other political parties but fail to address the wrongs does by their own parties. They conceal, deceive and disguise oneself from oneself. it's unhealthy emotionally and mentally to love with such self deception as it leads to low self esteem and self awareness and lack integrity, courage of conviction and honesty of purpose to be true to one's mission.

So here is the piece I wrote in 2017.

In mid-2016, I was commissioned by the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) and a Publishing House to co-author #MannKiBaat, a book based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio talk. In the book, I shared insights on nation-building and COUNTERED and COMPLEMENTED PM Modi’s thoughts and ideas.

After the book launch in 2017, the insights and #IdeasForAction in the book were read by many people, including Politicians and Bureaucrats. In 2017, I was invited to a meeting by a senior political leader to “discuss something important”. Over lunch he said to me “Jerry, we loved your insights in Mann Ki Baat and have also heard your public-talks and would like you to be our party’s official spokesperson for TV panels and live discussions.”

I replied to him “I am humbled! However, I doubt if I have what it takes to be your party’s spokesperson”. He asked, “ Why? You are an professional orator and have well-defined ideas and would be a perfect spokesperson.” I was baffled (because he and his other associates present in the meeting, had watched some of my talks, and they knew I was a straight shooter, who called a spade a spade and did not mince words in my plain speak against any politician or business, no matter how big and powerful they may be) and said to him “Sir, as an independent citizen of India, I am non-partisan and am not aligned nor believe in any politician or political party. Also sir, most political spokespeople (including his spokespeople), are always shouting loudly in an unruly manner to defend wrongs done by their party and do not own responsibility for wrongdoings. They think they are screaming out the truth, but it’s only mindless cacophony. The public can see through their lies”. 

I added, “I cannot do that! If spokespeople were allowed to speak their mind, own responsibility for wrongdoings and right every wrong, then the spokesperson and the party would have credibility and the public would value them for owning responsibility.” I asked him "If I would have the freedom to own responsibility, speak my mind and right wrongs as his party’s spokesperson." He said, “That is not how it works in politics.” He said they would coach me to be a “good spokesperson”. I responded “Sir, I choose to decline your spokesperson offer, because my choice is to be loyal to what is right for the nation and the people, and not to any politician or political party.”  I also told him that as a coach I teach people to leadership values and character rotted lessons and have 2 sons at home who would think "That our father teaches something in his leadership talks and training programs and then goes and tells lies and half-truths to defend the political party. I said that would go against my integrity and thus have to decline the offer." They did not take it well and did not like the fact that I declined this so-called #onceinaLifetimeOpportunity. :-)

#IdeasForAction: Like political spokespeople many business brands also do not own responsibility for wrongdoings. They get their PR machinery, Perception Managers, lobbyists and marketers to spin yarns and peddle half-truths. Like political parties, businesses also need to learn that truth always triumphs and consumers who buy brands, can see through the lies and half-truths.

In 1982, Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) Tylenol medication commanded 35 per cent of the US over-the-counter-analgesic market - representing around 15 per cent of their profits. Unfortunately, at that point some extortionist laced Tylenol packs with cyanide. Seven people died and panic ensued nationwide.

Johnson & Johnson were given a clean chit by the FBI and told they need not recall the stock. The Johnson & Johnson Leaders told the FBI "Till now, we did not know that someone has played mischief so cannot be responsible for the deaths that have happened so far, but NOW WE KNOW, so even if one more death happens, that will be on our WATCH and CONSCIENCE. so we need to do what is ethically RIGHT and not worry about Profits and Losses at this time"

J & J acted quickly, owned responsibility - recalling Tylenol from every outlet across the United States. It also decided that the product would not be re-established on the shelves till something had been done to provide better product protection. Johnson & Johnson, who lost 30 per cent market share and over $125 million in recalling stock, won praise for its quick and appropriate action. Within a few months of the disaster, Tylenol recovered 70 per cent of market share and by righting wrongs and inspiring trust, J&J succeeded in preserving the long-term value of the brand.

Hope the J&J case serves as a great lesson for all political parties and businesses.