Your #1 policy in business

Another terrorist attack in western Europe. Barcelona. Story is still developing in news outlets as I write these lines. My prayers go to the victims and their families, as to all citizens, residents and visitors in Europe. Fear is awful.

But together with my prayers, part of my attention drifts to that part of the world, as with the events in Charlottesville in the US over the weekend, when we were all pulled into the political discussion; or last week when world leaders' tweet-fighting again stole time from our daily urgencies and priorities.

Not that world peace doesn't matter. Not that human rights or terrorism should be ignored. But from 8 to 5, we are plant operators, practicing dentists, business executives, limo drivers, entrepreneurs or middle school teachers. And that is what we are paid for. That is how we feed our families. That is how we generate growth for our organizations and countries. And ultimately, how we contribute to fight poverty, inequality and hate.

from 8 to 5, we are plant operators, practicing dentists, business executives, limo drivers, entrepreneurs or middle school teachers.

People need a job, something productive to do when they get out of bed in the morning. But more and more, the world distracts us from our jobs. Either stealing time from designing a new solution or taking care of a customer, while we browse those sad and heartbreaking news; or by making us revisit our priorities and policies, debating what side to pick and how to convey it in a politically-correct manner.

Let's just remember what our #1 policy should be: the paying customer who selects us over other vendors, not based on our political stance or personal opinion, but the innovation and quality of our products and services, our market and industry intelligence, our resilient commitment to help them make money. So go back to work!