Contradictions, Paradoxes and Complexities

A contradiction is a situation where a proposition or an intention conflicts either with itself or with an established fact.

In turn, a complexity is the state of having many different parts connected or related to each other in a complicated way.

In simple terms, as for a contradiction, consider, for example, when the driver and a passenger seated inside a utility vehicle fail to use safety belts, it constitutes a traffic violation, yet passengers seated on the back of the truck are forgiven, even exonerated.

In other words, the driver and passengers seated inside a bakkie are compelled to wear seat belts, yet those travelling on the back of the vehicle are not.

The way the law is applied differs so significantly, doesn’t it?

Those inside the vehicle get slapped with a fine, but those travelling on the back of the very same vehicle do so without violating any law.

Is this a contradiction in law or merely the turning of a blind eye by the authorities, considering that this is the norm when it comes to people transportation in Namibia.

The acceptance of a reality.

Are contradictions and complexities connected or associated?

The answer lies in accepting that the world is defined in contradictions, paradoxes and complexities.

Within everyone there is a blend of good and bad motives that become opportunities to close those gaps between what we value and what we choose.

Like, for example, the rationality of imposing lockdowns during a pandemic – saving lives versus rapid economic decline.

So, entrepreneurs at this point would perhaps be wondering what this has to do with business.

An example of a contradiction businesses regularly face is the dilemma to constantly innovate or run the risk of market share erosion.

Yet the cost of innovating requires increased productivity, curtailing input costs, and other factors, which usually require investment funding not always readily available.

Another one is the acknowledgement that at any business its people or staff are the most important asset deserving of investment in the form of training, upskilling, grooming and positioning for increased responsibility, yet the funding to do so is just not available.

There are others too, but enough for now.

An entrepreneur must adopt contradictory or paradoxical strategies to survive, grow and thrive.

Contradictions serve as an inducement to develop survival instincts, adapt, and sharpen business focus.

Murphy’s law cautions that if anything can go wrong, it will.

In a competitive business arena enterprises have no alternative but to sink or swim.

Given these complexities and contradictions, how does an entrepreneur adapt and thrive in an uncertain economic environment?

From experience, I believe the only way is to anticipate, build resilience and navigate that inevitable maze of hardships one will, not may, encounter in business.

And that is done by staying flexible and open to change, developing smart business strategies with the input of staff through the identification of new revenue streams, and by embracing technological advances.

– Danny Meyer is reachable at danny@smecompete.com

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