When the history of these times are written, people will once again marvel at human stupidity and the power of the herd instinct. They’ll ask the same question they always do: “How could anyone be so dumb?” The answer will also be the same: “Those who don’t think and allow fashion to rule their lives climb to the top in good times and take us all into the abyss a few years later.”

The last few decades have seen endless parade of new management fads and panaceas. The evidence seems to be that none of them actually make things better, even though they may give the business that use them a higher publicity profile. I suspect that’s because they are either applied mechanistically, used as a substitute for thought, or given only lip-service by employees already wearied from past exposure to management faddism.

[‘Wordless Aarticle’] In a time of fear, the temptation is to try somehow to ‘cure’ the problem that you’re afraid of. This is a mistake. The reality is that there has never been a way to remove uncertainty from life altogether. The only sound answer lies in accepting what is and coping with it as best you can.

Coyote is trying to enjoy the peace and quiet of the desert when he meets the ‘Spirit of Free Enterprise’ who makes him a surprising offer. Coyote, however, finds it not to his taste and, in typical Coyote style, ends up with something very much better.

Today’s ‘wordless’ articles offers a basis for thinking about the underlying attitudinal and leadership causes for today’s crisis in the global economy; and the only truly long-term cures that will prevent anything like this from happening again.

Is the pursuit of happiness the main cause of your problems and misery? We have no right to be happy, any more than we have a right to be rich, good looking, healthy or popular. If you are any of these, be grateful. If you aren’t, do what you can and accept the rest. Don’t add to your unhappiness by obsessing about it.

Like the Wall Street giants forced into bankruptcy or fire-sales, all too many bosses act on the basis that “everything will turnout alright . . . somehow” and so fail to take the necessary action to deal with looming problems in time. They refuse to face up to reality, preferring their personal fantasies and comfortable evasions to the harsh truth about themselves and their business models. The first and most essential step towards wisdom is acknowledging reality, however painful or embarrassing that may be.

A ‘wordless’, visually-based posting this Monday. Here’s a diagram to show what matters when it comes to understanding and improving performance in the workplace—yours or that of someone who works for you. Use it to help focus your thoughts and reflections.

King Midas was a dream CEO. Thanks to the gift he requested from the god Dionysus, everything he touched turned to gold. That’s why ‘having the Midas touch’ has become a shorthand for anyone with exceptional money-making ability. Yet getting what you think you want often comes with a heavy—and unexpected—price.

This Monday’s haiku-based thoughts are about whether working flat-out to get what you think you want are worth what it will cost you in other parts of your life.