Of the two paths of entrepreneurship – namely, the conventional and hedonistic path on one hand, and the unconventional and unorthodox path on the other hand – it is the conventional and hedonistic path which is the path of least resistance. As I mentioned before, it is easy and quick to fall into the path of least resistance. Even the most intelligent people in society fall easily and quickly into this path of least resistance. Bureaucracy and Congress – as well as CNN – are examples of how a group of otherwise intelligent people can fall into a path of least resistance.
When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I was very much on this path of least resistance and thus I was very much on the conventional and hedonistic path. What took me off this conventional and hedonistic path were relationship problems which spilled over into legal problems in my early to mid-twenties. Although it was unfair for a person of that age to go through those types of problems for no good reason whatsoever – and I am still quite bitter about those experiences to be quite honest – the upside of those experiences was that those experiences and problems diverted me off the conventional and hedonistic path which most people assume and stay on, thus putting me on the unconventional and unorthodox path of entrepreneurship which I have been on for many years now. As the saying goes: “Every sinner has a future, and every Saint has a past.”
And as I mentioned before, one of these paths is conformational, while the other is transformational. In turn, both paths have their respective goals, as well as their respective incentives, rewards, and “prizes.” But the goals, incentives, rewards, and prizes for one path are hollow and superficial, while the goals, incentives, rewards, and prizes of the other path are meaningful and satisfying. One path leads to the reinforcement of the status quo and thus the further decline and decay of the world system, while the other path leads to change, reform, and transformation of the world system.
Furthermore, one path leads to academic and diplomatic paralysis, whereas the other path leads to intellectual stimulus and movement. There are several breakthroughs one can anticipate from a diplomatic standpoint, even though these breakthroughs seem unlikely given the way things are going at the present moment. When one looks at tensions between Russia and the West, no one would expect that an integration of Russia and Turkey into the European Union (EU) will ever be likely. Also, with the way things are going in the Middle East, it seems virtually impossible that anyone would be able to bring arch nemeses such as Iran and Israel towards a meeting of the minds in regards to the future of their region. Also, with competition and tensions intensifying between China and the United States, the creation of a “G-2” between these two major powers which some of the greatest strategic thinkers had long envisioned is also highly unlikely with the way things are going.
But part of entrepreneurial strategy – if not the most important part – is foresight and intuition, which I have mentioned on multiple occasions. Part of foresight and intuition is the knowledge and understanding that nothing stays permanent. Everything is in a constant state of flux. Thus, given that nothing stays permanent and that everything is in a constant state of flux, knowledge and wisdom – in addition to experience and memory – translate into foresight and intuition, and in turn one can anticipate the occurrence of certain things.
Adam A. Azim 