Consider counsel

This past week one of the titans of Wall Street, Merrill Lynch, essentially fired its Chief Executive after he took responsibility for losing about 8 billion dollars in risky mortgage loans.  Looking back I'm sure he regrets the decision to pursue this risky strategy.  Here is a quote from an article (Wall Street Journal) that describes how he approached decision making:

 

Some former colleagues say Mr. O'Neal's talent and steely drive came with a tragic flaw: He didn't much engage in debate, kept his own counsel and had little use for the kind of strong-willed subordinates who might have helped him steer clear of the subprime troubles that brought him down. In the early years of his tenure, which began in 2002, Mr. O'Neal purged the firm of many of its longtime senior employees and later fired some of those considered his allies.

"He was uncomfortable around independent people [with] views which might be different than his, and whose loyalty was to the firm rather than to him personally,"

The phrase "kept his own counsel" may sum it up.  Mr. O'Neal may have made a conspicuous and massive financial error in judgment, but are we much different when we fail to seek counsel from others in the course of major decisions.  When our fortune or well being is directly impacted by our actions and decisions it can be difficult to be logical, rational or wise.  I suppose that's why scripture tells us:

Job 15:8 Have you heard the counsel of God?
      Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

Psalm 81:12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart,
         To walk in their own counsels. 
         

Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel, plans go awry,
      But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

blessings,

Rob Smith