Over the past two weeks, this phrase has echoed through several discussions here in Estonia. As i’ve discussed business practices with many individuals and entrepreneurs, several have stated business is business and personal is personal, that business should never be taken personally. This morning Jevgeni, a building management representative whom i’ve had a dispute with, stated that business should never be taken personally, that to him business is all a big game to see who wins the most.
Interesting perspective from those who play this game,.. some win, some loose, as if it’s a lifelong poker game. But isn’t everything we do in life is personal? Isn’t how we behave a reflection of our values and who we actually are? And isn’t the object of this ‘game’ personal gain at another’s personal loss? What if others don’t like to play your games? What happens when you deceitfully take away what rightfully and personally belongs to another?
Life is personal no matter how you look at it, since God created us as personal not impersonal beings. When someone violates your personal space, be it physical, financial or emotional, it’s an ugly game regardless what you call it. Games like these are played by calloused hearts, people with no regard for community nor the interests of others. In acts of selfishness they endlessly try to fill a black hole in their soul, never satisfied and never filled.
The scripture teaches us that it’s better to give than to receive, yet so few actually know how to truly apply this principle to their lives. Visions of personal gain often skew our view of what is really important. And even when we give, our giving is rarely without the expectation of some personal return.
Yes, it’s all personal regardless what you may think. And how we behave is our personal message to others of who we are and what we believe.
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