“Congruency” means your life is congruent – you walk your talk – you live according to your deepest core values and beliefs, good or bad.
• Consistent behavior and choices are usually an indication of congruency – actions speak louder than words.
• The opposite is passive aggression, hypocrisy, and political correctness.
When choosing a Joint Venture partner, look for congruency, patterns, and proof. Do your own due diligence.
Someone might be consistently irrational or dishonest, displaying a congruency, which reflects their lack of integrity. You can’t judge a book by its cover, but you can judge people by the company they consistently keep.
Your Partner’s Philosophy Ultimately Affects You
You need to understand the philosophy of people in order to predict their future choices, and the future choices of your JV partners will affect your own future.
Umshini wami, also known as Awuleth’ Umshini Wami (English, Bring me my machine gun), is a popular Zulu language “struggle song” used formerly by members of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress of Nelson Mandela, during the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa. Most recently, the song is identified with the persona of Jacob Zuma, the new South African Prime Minister, and is often sung at rallies which involve him and his supporters, including the ANC Youth League. Here are the words:
“My machine my machine Gun
Please bring my machine gun
My machine gun my machine gun
Please bring my machine gun
My machine gun my machine gun
Please bring my machine gun
Please bring my machine gun
You’re pulling me back
My machine gun, Please bring my machine gun”
Knowing that, how would you like to JV with this character, regardless of his official status?
How to Choose the Right Joint Venture Partner
• Don’t base your opinion of someone on his or her station in life, wealth, position, or political power.
• And never believe what the media tells you.
My best JV partners have always been humble, unassuming, successful, and consistently honest.
• Test your potential JV partners in small ways before committing to large JV’s – allow them to prove themselves first.
Until then, wear a bulletproof vest.
