Politics: Love it or live with it

We live in a politics crazed country, a trait that is difficult to escape. It is what our current Philippine President does best reason why she is staying in power. It is present in practically every nook and cranny of our society – government, corporate, sports, entertainment, socio civic. It is a reality that we have to embrace if we want to survive in this culture. If we have to live with it, might as well work on a guide:

1- It’s who you know that’s important, not what you know. Work on your PR skills. Be a master the art of small talk. Continuously build your network.
2- Make the right connection. It doesn’t matter if more than half of the organization hates you as long as you invest on a relationship where it really matters. To borrow a former superior’s line, this is not a popularity contest.
3- It’s all a matter of projection. Master the art of communication, doesn’t matter if it makes sense or not. Chances are, the audience won’t question you anyway. Speak in English, you’ll be questioned less. Project a tough stance. Show the world you know what you’re talking about.
4- Learn to compromise. Say yes even if your stand is no. You have to weight options and protect your interest.
5- Learn to cover your behind. As Milli Vanilli’s song goes, blame it on the rain. Cause the rain don’t mind and the rain don’t care. You have to blame it on something.
6- Hear ye! Hear ye! Your good performance will not speak for itself, you have to announce it to the whole world. At most, the glory of a good performance will last for a day. On the second day, you have to market it.
7- Flower Power. You went fishing and you caught a tilapia but describe it as if you caught a tuna. The key here is learn to hype and while you’re at it use flowery words.
8- Effective Delegation. To borrow the HSBC ad tag line, life is a matter of perspective. If you’re an optimist, the term is called delegation. If you’re a pessimist, the term is called bullying.
9- Choose your battles. A more apt term is select your projects. Volunteer to projects that will make you look good. If it won’t make you look good, refer to number 8.
10- What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is mine. It is a wife’s perspective of their income. It’s also a leader’s perspective of initiatives. If it is his subordinate’s idea, at top level, that is usually diluted and ends up his idea. But if it is his idea, he’ll fight tooth and nail to make sure it’s acknowledged.

I can’t believe I’m writing these down. Much more, I can’t believe I have to follow these guide. Then again, I’d be ‘plastic’ if I said I never practiced some of these traits. Probably, it’s just a matter of frequency in applying it and if you want to embrace it eternally. However way you look at it, life is a game called survival of the fittest.