Love like business

I have been doing business for many years. Not every venture was profitable, but every experience indeed added lessons for me to learn in life. Doing business and thinking about business is not a problem for me. The challenge is to disallow business thinking to consume all the areas of my life. Some people do you know? They look at things and live their lives like they were doing business all the time, which may not be a good thing to do. For example, imagine a couple writing love letters with the mindset of doing business. Look at the way they communicate. First, let’s look at the male’s version:

Dearest Woman:

I am delighted to inform you that I have fallen in love with you since Tuesday, the 3rd of April 2008. Regarding the meeting held between us on the 31st of March 2008 at 1500 hours, I would like to present myself as a prospective suitor. Our courtship would be on probation for three months depending on compatibility and would be made permanent. Of course, upon completion of probation, there will be continuous on-the-relationship training and relationship appraisal schemes leading up to promotion from suitor to spouse. The expenses incurred for coffee and entertainment would initially be shared equally between us; later, based on your performance, I might take up a larger share of the expenses. However, I am broad-minded enough to be taken care of on your expense account. I request you to respond within 30 days of receiving this letter kindly. If not, I would cancel this offer without further notice, and I will then be considering someone else.

If you do not wish to take up this offer, I would be happy if you could forward this letter to your sister.

I am thanking you in anticipation.

Yours sincerely,

(Man)

Now here’s the reply to the business-like love letter.

Dear Man:

Please refer to your letter dated today.

I am pleased to inform you that I hope to accept your proposal for courtship. However, it would help if you were notified that there are certain conditions of acceptance. Promotional prospects are to my satisfaction. However, please enlighten me as to your retirement benefits. Gratuity should be generous.

I also need to be assured that there is sufficient security with regards to this commitment. If there is any chance at all of retrenchment or consequent disinterest on your part, then I should receive monetary compensation according to union standards. Due to my position’s nature, I am sure you will agree to arrange an expense account for my access in light of the ‘VIP’ I will be entertaining. Besides, housing and transportation allowances would be in order, and nothing less than a luxury condo and a Benz is in order. Please note that there should be no moonlighting restrictions placed on me. If you are still interested in the relationship, please reply on an urgent basis as other prospective suitors have exhibited interest.

Please also note that my sister is happily employed.

Yours perhaps,

(Woman)

Business is business, right? Wrong! When you approach love with a business-like attitude, then it’s merely a transaction, and it’s not love. I wonder how many businessmen love their wife and their family with the right kind of love and not approach it as a business transaction? Here is what true love is, and let me describe the features: Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Now that’s what the Bible says, and that’s the right kind of love. And with this, as the Word of God continues, love never fails. And that’s the bottom line. Not only do these features create a long-lasting joy-filled relationship, but it is also suitable for all things – including the part of doing business too.

(Connect with Francis Kong at www.facebook.com/franciskong2. Or listen to “Business Matters” Monday to Friday at 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. over 98.7 dzFE-FM ‘The Master’s Touch,’ the classical music station.)