Mr. Achievement - Stanley F. Bronstein - Personal Development BlogPersonal Development Blog of the Founder of the Achievement IQ Movement and Creator of the Laws of Positioning

This post topic was suggested to me by my loyal followers on Twitter, @soundsystemSDC

You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life. (Winston Churchill)

Enemy - a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent. something harmful or prejudical.

Stood / Taking A Stand - to take up or maintain a position or attitude with respect to a person, issue, or the like.

Source: Dictionary.com

Are Enemies A Good Thing Or A Bad Thing?

As I grow older (and hopefully wiser), I’m starting to believe that enemies are not necessarily a bad thing. Don’t get me wrong, I would rather have everyone agree with me 100% of the time, but that’s just not very likely to happen. Instead, I have embraced the idea of sometimes having enemies and here is why.

If We Try To Get Everyone To Agree With Us, We’re Being Too Passive

The only way to get people to agree with us all the time is if we give in to them 100% of the time. In order for that to happen, it requires that we allow them to push us around from time to time.

Assuming that is the case, being pushed around from time to time is NOT a good thing. We will always feel like we are being pushed around and other people will ultimately wind up taking advantage of us. This will ultimately create an imbalance in our lives.

What Happens If We Push Back?

If we push back, we begin to move the balance point between our interests and those of us around us (our potential enemies). If we push too far, we wind up creating an imbalance in the opposite direction and that is also a bad thing. Instead, I am proposing that we push, JUST ENOUGH, to move the balance point to an equal position where both sides can win. Instead of creating a situation where one person wins and another loses, I believe it is possible to create a situation where EVERYONE can win.

So, What About Crushing Our Enemies Into Dust?

If we crush our enemies into dust, then I believe we are pushing too far and we are being too negative. Whenever we release too much negative energy into the universe, negative things will wind up coming into our lives. Instead, we need to seek balance. The best way to overcome an enemy is NOT to crush them into dust, but instead to make them into your friend. There are many instances throughout the history of the world where two enemies aligned together and accomplished great things.

What Did Sun Tzu Say About This?

If you go after your enemy so strongly that they have no choice but to fight to the death (i.e. crushing them into dust), they will be the toughest enemy to defeat. Such an enemy will fight to the death as they have nothing to lose.

INSTEAD, if you offer your enemy something to live for, they may instead give up fighting and work with you in furtherance of that opportunity.

Moral Of The Story

Sometimes (i.e. very few times), it might make sense to crush your enemy, but that should always be a last resort.

If you crush your enemy, you will forever have an enemy that will want to seek revenge against you. Instead, if you can find a way to work with your enemy, you might be able to turn them into an ally and accomplish incredible things.