The topic of the examination of the role of numbers and words in business is presented in the textual form of Mr Shabani's podcast, concluding with Aradi's perspectives to facilitate reading for those interested in the text.
To listen to podcasts, you can go to the educational podcast section of the site menu.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Greetings and good time to all esteemed economic actors.
I hope you are well.
Today, I would like to discuss a topic that you frequently encounter in sessions, and sometimes your reactions to these issues may not be appropriate.
We have always had a definition in our talks and self-management, stating that there are qualitative words and quantitative words.
What is always said is that qualitative aspects cannot be examined.
What does this mean?
A certain employee is a good employee.
A certain product is a good product.
A certain country is a good country for exports.
What does this goodness mean?
At times, I might say a country with a fifty-million-dollar export capacity is good, and you might say a country with a five-million-dollar capacity is good, or another person might say a country with a fifty-billion-dollar capacity is good.
So, the word "good" does not have a unified definition.
It is one for me, the same for you, and the same for a third person.
In economics, things were easier because numbers were used more than qualitative words, making comparisons, decision-making, and analysis simpler.
Unfortunately, at some point, economics itself began playing with its numbers.
I'll give a simple example for you to grasp.
If you look at politics, both in Iran and abroad, for instance, during Mr. X's presidency, when the Minister of Economy provided statistics, everything was excellent and perfect.
The next president who comes in, from the same era, says the statistics presented during Mr. X's presidency show that there were problems and weaknesses.
He even provides numbers to argue, making it evident that economic statistics have become a kind of game.
Now, why am I talking about this?
Let's get down to business.
When you talk to producers, almost every producer you speak to claims to be the best in their field "I am the best producer of this product."
If you talk to a hundred producers in a certain field, ninety of them will say, I am the best!
How can everyone be the best?
If you delve into the discussion or, figuratively, the brawl, they document one thing.
For instance, one might say, "I have the best production method."
Another might say, "I have the best raw materials."
Another claims to have the best packaging.
They each prioritize one aspect and consider it the most important.
They then elevate that aspect to be the primary criterion and argue that they are the best.
You can observe this pattern with almost all producers.
You negotiate with African countries and negotiate with Somalis in East Africa.
They say we are the most important eastern country.
They say that the eastern countries were under our control and came into existence later.
We are talking to Kenyans.
They say that we are the fab of the region and all the events in East and Central Africa happen from Kenya.
Tanzanians also say these same sentences.
They say that we are important in the east.
In the west, Ivory Coast believes that it is the most important, and Senegal has the same belief, and Mali has the same belief, and in short, sit with anyone in a meeting and he will give you this opinion.
Now, what should we do with these opinions?
The first consideration is, who is expressing these opinions?
For instance, when you attend a meeting with the Iranian trade official dealing with Africa, and they claim that Nigeria is the most important country in Africa, you might trust their words.
This person holds the entire African portfolio, and their statement reflects the capacity and potential of Africa, declaring Nigeria as the most important.
Similarly, when discussing Southeast Asia, if someone asserts that Indonesia is the most crucial, it carries a certain level of respect and reliability.
Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the capacity of the individual expressing the opinion, ensuring that their statement encompasses their entire potential, and not just a self-serving perspective.
A few days ago, someone was discussing economics, emphasizing that certain actions are not feasible.
Upon closer inspection, it became evident that the approved portion was the only segment the company was involved in.
The rest of the areas were ignored, with the claim that those sections were irrelevant.
Reflecting on a childhood memory, a friend used to praise the Samand car when his father owned one.
After acquiring a Xantia, the narrative shifted to praising Xantia as the best car.
Later, with the purchase of a Pars, the narrative transformed again, praising Pars as superior.
This pattern illustrates a subjective judgment where whatever one possesses is considered the best.
When attending a meeting, one should listen to various data without immediately planning or deciding based on that information.
There is no need to react to every piece of information.
For instance, if a native of Mali states that West Africa is under their control, it's acceptable to agree during the meeting.
However, basing all your West African client decisions solely on that claim in an investment context could lead to mistakes.
But he told you in the meeting that we are the most important country in West Africa, so you should say yes.
If you go to a producer and he says I am the best producer.
If you only work with him, you are wrong, and if you approve but work with others, you have done the right thing.
Today's message is to carefully listen to all the data, evaluate the credibility of the speaker, and determine whether their statement is based on their capabilities alone or if they acknowledge the capabilities of others.
Remember the car example.
When he has four cars in the parking lot, you ask which one is the best, he says that such and such a car is the best at this time, because there were three other cars in the parking lot, but someone who has only one car in the parking lot cannot give an opinion that this is the best, because his opinion may be biased.
I'm not saying that his aim is bad, and this person is just his level of literacy, knowledge and ability, and you should expect him to be as good as he is.
So pay attention to this issue when you enter the meeting and someone says that we are the most important country, yes, but we have no reaction.
I am the best producer.
Yes, but I have no reaction.
Yes, but I have no reaction.
The economy is full of the best, the most important and the most influential.
It can't be too much and then it will not work.
You should be careful not to make wrong decisions with wrong data and wrong claims.
Wishing you success and guidance.
Ya Ali, goodbye.
0
0