The story runs like this. The building is on fire, looking around a worker sees all the other workers in his fourth floor office sitting quietly at their desks, shaking. They are doing as they were taught, waiting for a company marshal to appear and lead them in an orderly retreat down the fire escape. There is no sign of the marshal, the worker walks to his desk to assume the position.
If the worker had thought about it before today he would have seen the potential problems with such an arrangement, you can see them now; he was waiting for someone to tell him he could save his own life, someone to let him.
He should ignore the brazen stares of contempt for his breaking company policy, quietly and without panic walk to the emergency exit, and use it. No one will stop him. If anyone else survives they may write a sternly worded letter about his disobedience.
I had a friend say something chilling to me the other day. His family and old friends from his own country no longer call him crazy for saying their land is committing suicide. They say he may be wrong, it’s too soon to worry, or it’s different this time; but they don’t say he’s crazy anymore. They also won’t think about what it might mean, to them and their family, if he’s right.
They were taught to sit at their desks until an authority comes and tells them what they may do next.
He is not a designated authority, he’s someone that walked out the emergency exit without permission. They couldn’t do such a thing, instead they are busy at their desks looking sternly at anyone else that prepares to exit. As the heat increases they will glance to see if they have a clear path to the doorway. They will wait until there are screams and panic before they stampede over each other toward a now smoke filled and crowded staircase. My friend has a place waiting for them if they can get there. Most people have nothing prepared, by themselves or anyone else.
Now let’s look at the other side of the curtain.
Responsibility is an ugly word; most of us spend our lives attempting to avoid being responsible for anything. When we get responsibility we try to shove it off on someone else. People say things like “I had children, but since I have to work, the school is responsible.” “I have a job, but since we have a bureaucracy and rule books; as long as I’m a good follower I can’t be blamed when everything goes wrong.” “As long as everybody does the same things, it’s not our fault that they fail — again and again.”
What an unpleasant way to waste a perfectly interesting life.
Because of fear.
Courage is not a lack of fear, it is an acknowledgement that many things are more important than fear. If we have the courage to do what’s right, we end up having to embrace responsibility. It’s easy to escape responsibility, there are always good excuses to remain a coward. Since almost everyone else is a coward, no one will accuse you of running from fear. In fact if you face your fears and start to prosper most people will get mad at you for showing the world what they claim is impossible, can be accomplished. We accomplish much by fighting the fears others will not face. I know a business woman who’s empire was built on a strategy of starting each day by doing what she least wants to do.
Let’s get responsible.
The following is as it is shared in airport bars around the world.
Don’t check with lawyers in your home country. They are officers of the local court and are not your friends. Find good advisors where you might want to live and talk with them. You can call yourself Smith or Gonzales for a first consultation and ask your questions. Have many consultations before you select that first knowledgeable and hopefully trustworthy counselor.
You have been trained by your government to trust your government. Question that.
You have respect for people with authority. Question this too.
You were born seeking stimulation and change. Look back; that stopped when you entered preschool. When you entered school, you concentrated on what you were required to mimic.
That silliness can end today; or you can continue as a robotic cog until you die.
It’s your choice.
Save some cash and keep it outside a bank. Buy some gold and silver and keep it hidden where you can find it. Get a passport and travel. Find some societies where you might like to live. Open a foreign bank account. Stay in a potential second home country for a month or more. Try another. And another. Choose your favorite society and stay through the least pleasant period of the year. If it still suits, start residency proceedings.
I could keep going, but you won’t get far into that list before you start getting questions, and as you act, start finding answers. Our referrals and free reports can help. Once you know enough to ask new questions you will be like that preschool child you once were: full of dreams and wonderful change.
This side of the curtain has rules
and missing-in-emergencies fire marshals.
I’ll tell you what’s on the other side of the curtain,
Responsibility
and Paradise.
Bill Freeman