(Distinctions are subtleties of language that, when gotten, cause a shift in a belief, behavior, value or attitude.)

 

Many of us, maybe most, were raised to believe it’s not a good thing to take advantage of someone. We were trained to be kind, considerate and loving toward others. Experience shows that is very good advice.

However, some people seem to have carried that attitude to another realm by feeling it is not OK to be more successful than another. If an opportunity for you to benefit comes by, you see it first and recognize its potential, and you take action, there is nothing wrong with it.

The rub is when – through fear, greed or a belief in scarcity – you damage another in order to win. That’s taking advantage of someone.

The difference is between acting on an opportunity versus being opportunistic. The difference is ethics.

 

Copyright 2002 Steve Straus. All rights reserved.