The Divide, The Good, or The Self?

El Salvador 2023

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”
- Mattithyahu (Matthew) 7: 24-25

Some structures are built to last. Others never quite find their foundation.

I took this photo by the water’s edge—a skeletal pier reaching out toward the sea, incomplete yet full of story. It reminded me of the ways we build our businesses, our cultures, and our teams. The scaffolding may be there, but the strength of what we build depends entirely on how well it’s anchored.

For years, I’ve worked in business administration, studying how systems and people interact. What I’ve learned is this: even the most refined process will falter if the people within it aren’t aligned. And alignment—true alignment—is more than job titles and KPIs. It’s about inner posture. It's about motive. It’s about how we show up.

Over time, I began seeing patterns—three postures, three ways of operating. Each one reflects not just behavior, but belief.

The Great Divide

These are the individuals who prefer separation. Whether through isolation or silent rivalry, their energy creates dissonance in a system designed for cohesion. Sometimes it’s subtle—a clique here, a lack of collaboration there. But over time, division becomes a current that pulls against collective momentum. Productivity suffers, and so does trust.

The Greater Good

This posture prioritizes harmony. Those who embody it seek shared outcomes, even amidst difference. They uplift others, mentor freely, and model balance between work and well-being. They move not from ego, but from vision—working in ways that reflect the whole. In these cultures, camaraderie isn’t forced. It’s lived.

The Greatest Self

Here, the focus is individual advancement. The work is done well—but often only insofar as it furthers personal gain. Metrics matter. Promotions are pursued. Loyalty is conditional. While not inherently harmful, this orientation can weaken a shared foundation if left unchecked. Especially when collective integrity takes a back seat to personal ambition.

None of these are “right” or “wrong.”

They simply are.

And they each invite reflection.

As business owners and leaders, we must first discern our own posture—then create cultures that invite alignment. The kind of alignment that holds when the winds rise. The kind that builds something real, lasting, and true.

Reflection: Which posture do you most resonate with right now—divide, good, or self? And what would it look like to move just one degree closer to alignment?

Shalom, everyone!