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MANIPULATIVE COMMUNICATION: DISEASE OF TRIANGULATION

    Although it may be dressed up in seemingly harmless talk, or sandwiched between nicer comments about the other person, the person is, possibly unintentionally, but more likely intentionally, trying to manipulate the perception and reputation of the other person that is not there to defend themselves. This is triangulation and it’s a form of communication where instead of talking WITH the other person, someone is talking ABOUT the other person. This common, passive-aggressive behavior is toxic, destructive, manipulative, and contagious.

    Top 5 Reasons Family Businesses Fail

      What are the reasons so many of these family businesses fail and the families fall apart? Every situation is unique and there are many different factors, often even overlapping factors, that lead to these unfortunate outcomes however they generally fall into 5 main areas.

      THE GUARDRAILS: Establishing Your Family and Business Values

        If we desire to seek eternal success, we must live the values as described in the Bible, the church and the examples of the Saints. Similarly, if we want to have success in our family, alignment with these values, along with a strong commitment from family members, is critical. In the family business, this commitment to the values is critical to success as well. Your values are necessary to make the tough decisions in your life, with your family and steer the company in the right direction.

        Build A Solid Foundation

          When you’re building anything, we know we want to build a solid foundation to start. If we are going to build our family, our business and our life on something, we want to be certain that it is solid. Everyone faces difficulties and challenges in their life, so how are we going to respond when we face these difficulties? What path are we going to take?

          Neighbor

          THE TENTH COMMANDMENT: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR OVER THEIR THINGS

            The Tenth Commandment addresses the deliberate and conscious intentions and thoughts inside of us – our desires, thoughts, and covetousness. It pertains to the inner attitudes of greed and envy that lead us to act unjustly toward the goods and property of our neighbor. It goes beyond the exterior actions to purify even the intentions of the heart.

            THE NINTH COMMANDMENT: SEEK PURITY OF MIND AND HEART

              In the review of the Sixth Commandment, we covered how this commandment is focused on the physical acts and forbids the impure actions, the Ninth Commandment addresses the deliberate and conscious intentions and thoughts inside of us. The Ninth Commandment is focused on our heart and our mind – the impure desires, thoughts, and covetousness inside each of us.

              THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT: LIVE IN TRUTH

                The Eighth Commandment is about telling the truth and living in truth. According to the Catechism, “The disciple of Christ consents to “live in the truth,” that is, in the simplicity of a life in conformity with the Lord’s example, abiding in his truth. “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth.”
                (CCC no. 2470)

                THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT: ALL CREATION BELONGS TO GOD…BE GOOD STEWARDS

                  You shall not steal. – Exodus 20:15 NRSVCE
                  The Seventh Commandment seems pretty straightforward that you shouldn’t steal from another however the Catechism provides even deeper context as to how this applies. It reveals that all of creation belongs to God and we are simply stewards or caretakers of what is created.