The Establishment

I find myself dangerously close to offending the establishment these days. I'm sure you know exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about - a bureaucratic hierarchy that's deeply entrenched and primarily concerned with their own self-preservation. You can find these groups everywhere, in business, religion, politics, family dynamics, etc. The establishment exists everywhere there are people.

Typically the establishment is over protective and slow to respond. They like big productions and complex programs. They prefer slow movements of large groups. All of these things provide the establishment with a sense of control and power, without consideration for value or worth.

What frustrates me most about the establishment is their willingness to completely ignore new innovation and opportunities for improvement if it disrupts the status quo. Moreover, when individuals speak out against this ignorance, the establishment often perceives this constructive criticism and opportunity for improvement as a threat, and targets that perceived threat for elimination, which only serves to perpetuate the problem.

Here's the point: the best way to preserve self is to outperform expectations. It's easier to do that when you actually choose to take advantage of positive opportunities.