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Getting Satisfaction from Power
By Bill Richmond

Scene One: the hard knock on the door a few weeks ago startled us awake. My wife and I were greeted by the Yarmouth police who informed us that seven of the eight tires on our two cars had been slashed, and that someone had scratched initials into the sides of each vehicle. The police say the people who did it have been caught; they are just 16 and 17 years old.

Scene Two: I was on the Mid Cape Highway the other day, when a car passed by. If I am any judge of speed, the driver was doing 80. As the car flew by, I had just enough time to read the sticker on its bumper: “Teach Your Children Well”.

Scene Three: the newspapers are full of articles describing fraud and theft that have been committed at the top levels of large corporations. These acts have cost many thousands of workers their retirement funds, cheating them out of financial security that was rightfully theirs.

In the depths of a very cold winter, it’s a good time to think about power, and the good and bad it can do. Why are all these events happening? It’s not for grubby money I’m sure. The guy doing 80 wasn’t making more money. The kids who allegedly vandalized so much property in Yarmouth didn’t do it for money. And I think you can argue that Enron executives and the other accused CEOs didn’t do it for money either. After all, they were paid many millions of dollars for their business expertise. I think the speeder, the vandals and corporate cheats did it for power. It’s the feeling that comes when you can dominate another person.

The hunger for power is very dangerous. Remember the phrase, ”All power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely”? It’s true. The study of history is in large part a study of the rise and fall of corruption and power. So, what lessons should we on Cape Cod learn from history?

We should use power cautiously and wisely. Each of us has some power: parents over their children, salespeople over customers, bosses over their employees, government officials over the citizens who elected them. The best way to use this power is thoughtfully and benevolently, to help others learn, grow and be satisfied in their lives at home and at work.

Professional counselors will tell you that businesses succeed when they pay attention to their customers’ needs and have a culture of excellence in personal service. Remember how many Japanese-built Toyotas, Datsuns and Hondas were sold before American car companies started listening to their employees?

At the start of another seasonal cycle here on Cape Cod, as business owners set sales goals, order inventory and hire employees, it’s time to do a little self-assessment, time to ask ourselves a few questions. Am I wielding power for the good of my customers and workers? Will I share the power that I have to help the community or will I just speed by again, sporting platitudes on my car bumper?

Resolve now to use your power and influence to help others in 2003, and you are likely to find that this approach will bring you great satisfaction, to say nothing of improvements in your town and at the bottom line.

Bill Richmond is an architect living and working in Yarmouth Port. He may be reached at comments@williamhrichmond.com.