We are exploring the nearly century old wisdom of a Japanese shogun named Yoritomo Tashi whose manuscript was translated into the book “Influence – How to Exert it” in 1915.
Today, we are finishing up Lesson 7 about making good decisions.
Yoritomo says, “Soon the fame of your wisdom will spread abroad and…men will come and ask for your counsel. For they are numerous who dare not venture alone in the paths of will – the creator of responsibilities.”
He says that others don’t make decisions out of fear of bearing the responsibility for those decisions alone. But with the counsel of someone they trust and respect with them, they will make those decisions.
Yoritomo tells many stories to illustrate his points in the book. I omitted them as they are long. But he does here talk about getting better, acquiring more knowledge, and looking at and understanding situations and decisions by others to become better at making the right decisions yourself, faster and easier.
In this next passage, he also mentions that while you may be an expert and be able to make decisions in a given area or subject, don’t try to make decisions in all areas – in things you don’t know much about. Learn to be a wise expert before helping others make decisions.
“Be counselors with well-weighted and prompt decisions; do not stray in the by-paths of which you do not know the windings, and learn to become safe and enlightened guides for yourselves before pointing out the way to those of whom your influence had made attentive and devoted disciples.”
And that closes our lesson on Decisions.
Tomorrow we will begin a new lesson. I won’t tell you the subject, but I will say that I wrote in my notes, “Wow! What a lesson!”
I’m so enjoying the teachings of Yoritomo! Thanks for sharing and helping to understand these lessons. Great job!