15 May 2015 What Dangers Lie Ahead?

Stephen Covey begins his famous book ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ with this line:

‘Interdependence is a higher value than independence.’

Today’s Brief asks a simple, yet daunting question. But first a story from Stephen’s book to better frame the question.

“Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on
the battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the
bridge keeping an eye on all activities.

Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported,

‘Light, bearing on the starboard bow.’

‘Is it steady or moving astern?’ the captain called out.

Lookout replied, ‘Steady, captain,’ which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.

The captain then called to the signalman, ‘Signal that ship: We are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees.’

Back came a signal, ‘Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees.’

The captain said, ‘Send, I’m a captain, change course 20 degrees.’

‘I’m a seaman second class,’ came the reply. ‘You had better change course 20 degrees.’

By that time, the captain was furious. He spat out, ‘Send, I’m a battleship. Change course 20 degrees.’

Back came the flashing light, ‘I’m a lighthouse.’

We changed course.”

Are you alone on your bridge looking for the rocks that may lie in your financial future, or do you rely on trusted advisors to enlighten your optimal course? We are a lighthouse.