How To Be A Viable Man. (New Man)

'I am a rock.'

That's the title of a song written by Paul Simon in 1965. He later re-recorded it with art Garfunkel. So we have Simon and Garfunkel singing a very famous song to some of us. ‘I am a rock.’

And, what have Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel got to do with business strategy or sustainable business strategy? I want to use the words written by Paul Simon to illustrate the point about a viable man.

When I was a young man in my late teens, I think I heard this song and remember saying it out loud like an Anthem. I am a rock, I am an island.

And this seemed to me (these were pop singers, very popular with the girls) to be a recommendation about how to proceed in life. So for about ten years, I did - and went through several kinds of hell on the way.

Let me read you the words, and you'll see why:

A winter's day

In a deep and dark December

I am alone

Gazing from my window to the streets below

On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow

I am a rock I am an island

I've built walls

A fortress deep and mighty

That none may penetrate

I have no need of friendship, friendship causes pains

It's laughter and it's loving I disdain

I am a rock I am an island

Don't talk of love

Well I've heard the word before

It's sleeping in my memory

I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died

If I never loved I never would have cried

I am a rock I am an island

I have my books

And my poetry to protect me

I am shielded in my armor

Hiding in my room safe within my womb

I touch no one and no one touches me

I am a rock I am an island

And a rock feels no pain

And an island never cries

(Copyright Paul Simon)

So unbeknown to me, I took these words as a key and unconsciously, if you like, followed this as a recommended route for a young man, which I can tell you is not sustainable.

If you have no need of friendship because friendship causes pain, and it's laughter, and it's loving you disdain, it's not sustainable. And in business strategy, it's not a suitable anthem either.

Best wishes

Joseph

(An approximate edit from the video ‘How To Be A Viable Man’ by Joseph Pritchard)