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  Applying 'Don’t Be Evil' to Workplace Toxicity and Narcissistic Behavior Applying “Don’t Be Evil” to Workplace Toxicity and Narcissistic Behavior By Desalegn Terecha June 19, 2025 Introduction – Bringing “Don’t Be Evil” Into the Workplace Google’s once-famous motto, “Don’t Be Evil,” captures a deep and timeless ethical idea: Do no harm. In a world where workplaces can become breeding grounds for narcissism, manipulation, and toxicity, this principle serves as both a shield and a mirror. This blog explores how applying this principle, alongside the Golden Rule—“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”—can help us critically examine toxic behaviors, build resilience, and promote a culture of respect and empathy. Understanding Workplace Toxicity Workplace toxicity doesn't always look explosive. Often, it's quiet: the invisible burden of manipulation, constant ego games, or emotional invalidation. This toxicity drains creativ...

  Google’s “Don’t Be Evil” – What It Really Means for Us All Google’s “Don’t Be Evil” – What It Really Means for Us All By Desalegn Terecha June 19, 2025 Introduction: The Simplicity and Power Behind “Don’t Be Evil” "Don't Be Evil" — a three-word motto that once defined Google’s ethical core. While it may seem like a minimalist corporate slogan, this phrase contains profound moral, psychological, and philosophical implications. In an increasingly digitized and ethically complex world, this reminder echoes timeless wisdom — like the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." In this article, we explore how this guiding principle aligns with ancient moral teachings, psychological insights, and the urgent need to observe and resist toxic and narcissistic behaviors — in business, personal relationships, and online life. The Origins of “Don’t Be Evil” First introduced by Google employees Paul Buchheit and...

  How Economies of Scale and Innovation Make Your Business Irreplaceable How Economies of Scale and Innovation Make Your Business Irreplaceable In today’s hyper-competitive world, starting a business isn’t the hard part—keeping it irreplaceable is. From legendary business moguls like Jeff Bezos to local enterprises that scale silently, one thread weaves them all together: the combination of economies of scale and technological innovation . These two powerful forces don’t just reduce cost and improve efficiency; they make businesses difficult to outcompete or copy. What Are Economies of Scale? Economies of scale refer to the cost advantages that businesses experience as they grow larger. When production scales up, the per-unit cost of goods or services typically goes down. This happens because fixed costs—like rent, salaries, and equipment—are spread over more units of output. Types of Economies of Scale Internal Economies: Cost savings th...

  Social Anthropology Analysis of The Gods Must Be Crazy Social Anthropology of The Gods Must Be Crazy : A Multi‑Lens Analysis By Desalegn Terecha, MA Social Anthropology, BA Economics & Education 1. Introduction: Why the Film Matters The Gods Must Be Crazy contrasts two vastly different worlds: the indigenous San hunter-gatherers of the Kalahari Desert and modern Southern African society. What begins as a comedic tale—sparked by a Coca-Cola bottle dropping from a plane—unfolds into a profound anthropological case study about materialism, adaptation, and cross-cultural encounters. 2. Symbolic Interpretation: Coke Bottle as Cultural Catalyst In symbolic anthropology, culture is seen as a web of meanings. The Coke bottle in this film becomes more than an object—it is a powerful cultural symbol: Divine Significance: The San believe it is a gift from the gods. Social Disruptio...

  The Missed Flight That Saved a Life: A Story of Grace, Timing, and Perspective The Missed Flight That Saved a Life: A Story of Grace, Timing, and Perspective Life has a strange way of teaching us the most profound lessons — not through books or lectures, but through experiences that shake us to the core. Such is the story of Bhoomi Chauhan , an ordinary woman whose missed flight turned out to be an extraordinary event that saved her life. Missed by Minutes: The Story of Bhoomi Chauhan On what was supposed to be a routine trip, Bhoomi left for the airport to board Indian Airways Flight AI171 . As fate would have it, traffic delays caused her to miss check-in by just 10 minutes. Frustrated and disheartened, Bhoomi was turned away at the gate. Minutes later, as she stepped outside the airport, she received the devastating news: the flight she was meant to board had crashed shortly after takeoff . Everyone on board had perished. "I was upset aft...

  The Importance of Ports for Trade, Business, and Socio-Economic Development The Importance of Ports for Trade, Business, and Socio-Economic Development Author: Desalegn Terecha | Published: June 12, 2025 Why Ports Matter: The Lifeline of Global and National Economies Ports are gateways to the global economy. They serve as critical nodes where goods are imported and exported, driving business growth, industrial expansion, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings. Without access to ports, nations—particularly landlocked ones—face monumental challenges in achieving economic development and integration into global value chains. The Port-Economy Link: Unpacking the Value 1. Boosting Trade Efficiency Efficient port systems enable faster customs processing, minimize delays, and reduce the cost of moving goods. For example, countries with high-performing ports like Singapore and the Netherlands experience better trade efficiency, con...

  From Struggle to Stability: The Journey of a Startup 🌱 From Struggle to Stability: The Journey of a Startup by Desalegn Terecha Introduction Starting a business feels like planting a seed deep in the ground. At first, it demands daylight attention—constant nurturing, resources, and belief—even while all you see above soil may be silence. This budding venture often faces negative cash flow , where expenses outweigh income and each month feels like a gamble. Stage 1: The Early Struggle Why Cash Flow Can Be Negative New businesses invest heavily at launch—equipment, marketing, salaries—while revenue trickles in slowly. This stage is a dance on the edge of survival. Common Pitfalls Poor product–market fit Too much team overhead too soon Lack of customer validation Authors like Lak Ananth (“ Anticipate Failure ”) and Tom Eisenmann (“ Why Startups Fail ”) remind us that most startups collapse not from lack of ...

  The Nest Isn’t Always Safe: A Career Lesson from Nature The Nest Isn’t Always Safe: A Career Lesson from Nature By Desalegn Terecha | Economist, Sociologist & Human Development Specialist A Peaceful Scene... or a Warning? Imagine a tranquil image: two small birds resting on a fresh green branch, gentle rain falling around them. Beneath them lies a perfectly crafted nest—symbol of home, safety, and purpose. But inside, coiled in silence, is a snake. What was meant to be a cradle of life has become a place of hidden danger. And in this image lies a powerful metaphor for our careers. Sometimes, the Workplace Is the Snake's Nest Many of us enter new jobs with hope. The company looks great on the surface. The onboarding feels smooth. Managers smile. The office coffee is good. But sometimes, beneath that welcoming exterior lies disarray—poor leadership, internal politics, or burnout culture. What you thought would protect your future might ...

  In Conflict Resolution, Ignoring the Giant in the Room Won't Bring Sustainable Peace In Conflict Resolution, Ignoring the Giant in the Room Won't Bring Sustainable Peace Introduction: Why We Must Address the Obvious In the world of conflict resolution, there’s a popular metaphor — “the elephant in the room.” It refers to an obvious issue that everyone knows but no one wants to talk about. Yet, sustainable peace is never built on avoidance. If key grievances and injustices are swept under the rug, peace agreements risk crumbling like sandcastles under a rising tide. The Nature of Conflict: More Than Just Clashes Conflicts, whether personal, communal, or international, are layered. Beneath the visible tension often lie deeply rooted issues — historical injustices, identity suppression, marginalization, or resource inequality. Ignoring these foundational causes is akin to treating pneumonia with a cough drop. Case in Point: South Sudan ...

  Everything Changes: Embracing Life’s Shifting Nature with Humility and Grace Everything Changes: Embracing Life’s Shifting Nature with Humility and Grace The Unchanging Truth About Change Everything in life is transient. Seasons shift, fortunes fluctuate, and even the strongest eventually bend to time. Understanding the impermanence of our condition is key to developing humility and compassion. This blog explores the timeless wisdom that reminds us: we are no better than anyone else . Symbolism of Life’s Turning Wheel Alive, the Bird Eats Ants When alive, the bird rules the sky. It consumes the ants below without a second thought, a symbol of dominance. Yet this dominance is fleeting. Dead, the Ants Devour the Bird In death, the mighty fall. The very ants that once cowered beneath the bird now feast upon it. This reversal illustrates that life’s roles are never fixed. What is high may fall; what is low may rise. Time: The Ultimate L...

  Life Is So Much Bigger Than Self | Desalegn Terecha Life Is So Much Bigger Than Self By Desalegn Terecha Introduction: The Illusion of the Self-Centered Life We live in a time where self-optimization is a buzzword, individualism is often celebrated, and personal achievements are held up as the pinnacle of success. But in chasing personal ambitions, it’s easy to lose sight of a deeper truth: life is so much bigger than self . Beyond our own experiences lies a vast web of interconnected lives, stories, and impacts. Why We’re Wired for Connection The Science of Human Interdependence Studies in psychology and neuroscience show that humans are biologically wired for connection. From mirror neurons that enable empathy to hormones like oxytocin that bond us to others, our brains are designed t...