Can Blind Faith Negotiations Obviate the Evil of Systematization?

Unfortunately, co-author of the texts used to teach Negotiation and Deal-Making (NDM) skills at Full Sail University, Roger Fisher, transcended this lifetime on August 25, 2012 at the age of 90. Fisher co authored the book “Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In” with William Ury and Bruce Patton and the book, “Get what you want: Improve Your Relationships:Beyond Reason Using Emotions as you Negotiate.” Fisher advanced the theory of talking to those whom some may consider terrorist- minded human beings. He used the principles of listening to ascertain the concerns of Iran’s Ayatollah during the 1981 hostage crisis. Fisher says, “[One] can learn more by listening than by judging from a distance.” In an effort to access the root of the dissension between countries, he advocates that a President should use second level people to initiate negotiations.

One of Fisher's co-authors and colleagues, William Ury, corroborates his theory, referring to the second level team as "the third side" of a conflict. Ury defines the third side as, “us, the community, the friends, the allies, the family members, the neighbors.” Ury goes on to explain that the role of the third party is to help take conflicting parties to the “balcony… a metaphor for a place of perspective where we can keep our eyes on the prize.” We remind the parties of a conflict what is at stake and help them get to the 'balcony' in resolving the conflict. In his conclusion, Ury empowers us with the secret to peace, which is, “The Third Side.” He recounts an African Proverb, “When spider webs unite, they can halt even the Lion,” and analogizes that, “if we’re able to unite our third side webs of peace, we can even halt the lion of war.” Ury admits that in its simplicity, it is not easy to resolve conflicts involving the use of weapons of mass destruction; however, he avers that in his almost four decades of involvement of global negotiations, he has, "yet to see a conflict that cannot be transformed" utilizing the third party approach. He further invites us to consider taking the third side to assist in bringing the world a step closer to peace.

Stevland Morris, my cyber mentor, is so troubled by the tensions rising due to the threats being made by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to wage nuclear war against the U.S. and its allies that he is requesting an invitation from President Obama to personally visit Jong-un as a third side to obviate the devastating “Evil” that would result from such an attack on humanity. In an interview with, Mesha McDaniel, Sir Stevland Morris expressed gratitude for the Divine Blessings of being the personification of Stevie Wonder, but he believes that the Creator also has a more Supreme Ordination for his life.

From the comments made during the Wonder and Hayes backstage interview at the Academy of Country Music Awards, I surmise that liken to Jesus and many of the great prophets that followed in His footsteps, Sir Stevland is an ambassador of love and peace, who is destined to use his music to help save the planet from self-destruction. There is no doubt in my mind that, just as the pied piper in the fable saved the town from being destroyed by rats with his pipe, Sir Stevland can use the Harmonica Man and his sultry pipes, to turn shouting threats of harm into singing songs of happiness; thus potentially saving the world through love and music.

However, for “Blind Faith Negotiations to obviate the evil of systematization," that could result in nuclear war, it will be necessary to organize a dynamic team to assists in accomplishing this task. As Stevie Wonder’s 'online graduate student' artist manager, I would say to President Obama, in considering your second-level or your third side negotiation team, “Please contract renowned and vetted negotiator, William Ury of the Harvard Negotiation Project to coach and accompany Sir Stevland, as well as myself to help conduct Stevie’s business affairs and to manage his diet, while I simultaneously make real-world connections to gain mastery of negotiation skills.” With a third party team, ordained by The Most High, that includes Stevland Morris, William Ury, and Queen Searles, among others; the United States of America will be blessed to have a balcony experience where we can all enjoy life more harmoniously on Higher Grounds.

Systematization Infiltration No - ‘Wonder Blunder’

In my initial Blog Post, I defined systematization as “the debilitating condition resulting from bureaucratic systems of operation that tend to impede and place limitations upon an individual and/or an organization’s ability to excel beyond the constraints of scarcity and surpass their highest expectations.” I further stated that “at some point throughout one’s career journey, they will likely encounter systematization.”  The effects of systematization have found its way into the University of Hawaii through a scam that has caused them embarrassment and the loss of over half a million dollars including the cost of cover-ups and investigations. Government officials required the university to publically reveal details related to what the media has termed, the “Stevie ‘Wonder Blunder’ Concert.” 

Infiltration and collusion between university employees and others posing as the business manager for Stevland Morris is no “wonder blunder.”  No duplicitous catchy title, with overtones that could lead reads to believe that Stevie Wonder or his management team could possibly be involved in such a fiasco, should be used to headline such vile transgressions.  As pointed out in the article, university officials did not exercise due diligence in checking the background of those impersonating Mr. Morris’ agents.  It is incomprehensible that a blatant conspiracy could be trivialized as a blunder, in other words mistake.  Any university clerk, secretary, or administrator could have easily contacted anyone at any of Mr. Morris’ establishments to confirm the name of his business manager.  It should be standard practice for any business professional to corroborate an event before disbursing funds.

Mr. Morris is blessed to have astute managers such as Brett Steinberg and Rob Light, representatives of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), as gatekeepers of his business affairs.  Exactly how they became aware of the unauthorized concert was not disclosed.  However, they prevented Stevie Wonder fans from experiencing the pain of showing up for a fiasco that would have left everyone wondering how our hero could disappoint his lifelong fans.