DAVID GUERRA, MA, MBA

For those that have been following my blog, you may remember the Bell Curve and the Chart that talks about finding yourself in a place better than most of the population.
Well, let me take a moment or two of your time to help refresh your memory or to introduce you to what I called “The Higher, The Fewer.”

This comes from an episode of an old television show called Star Trek: The Next Generation. In an episode, there is a reference to obligations and what must be done (whether we like it or not) and what can be done (whether we like it or not). There is a line that at the time made no sense but over time and re-runs it started to make sense. That line was just four words: THE HIGHER, THE FEWER.

To take this literally, it means that while on the ground the place is crowded and as one changes elevation there are less things to get in the way. Picture the road at rush hour, crowded and packed and almost at a standstill. Now look up, in the sky. Not so crowded, is it?

Look at it this way. You are starting out in life. You get a front line position, you are among many. I know this to be true. I was an Infantryman for the US Army. There were so many of us. Then again, as history has shown us time after time, there is always plenty of cannon fodder. However, all of us had a rank. The Army is funny that way. The rank helps keep things organized and it creates levels of operation, responsibility and a blame buffer between the top ranked individuals and the fodder down below.

While an Infantry platoon may consist of approximately 30 men, there are 4 squads, each with their own leader; Squad Leader. Then there is a Platoon Sergeant and a Platoon Leader. Moving up the ranks there is a Company First Sergeant and Company Commander. Moving up again, there is now the Sergeant Major and the one Battalion Commander. Up even further is the one Brigade Commander, one Division Commander, one Corps Commander and so on, all the way up to the one Commander in Chief. How’s that for a very brief overview the command structure of the US Army?

So, what does this have to do with THE HIGHER, THE FEWER?

As you move up the ranks there are fewer and fewer among you. Look at it like a triangle/pyramid. There is a wide base but as you climb up the available area becomes smaller and smaller. Eventually, when you get to the top there is only room for one. There can be only one.
The same principle applies in life, especially when it comes to those you surround yourself with. When we are young, everyone is your friend. You want to be liked. You want to be popular. Then as you get older and away from school you soon discover that it gets harder and harder to make friends, to be popular; why? Because now as you are older, no longer is charisma and good looks enough. Now it is all about what you bring to the table. What are your merits? Even then they might not be enough to bring into that “kaffeeklatsch” or get invited to the discussion round table or what not.

As you move up the line, you become more selective about who you hang around with. Others are doing the same. Now, you pick your battles wisely. You make decisions after careful deliberation and consideration. No longer is being carefree (and careless) enough. As you have grown, learned, and become more selective you realize the higher you have gone, there are fewer people like you are around you. There are even fewer that you find yourself wanting to be around. That is just human nature. Remember, it is not about being elite or being perceived as an elitist but more about self-preservation as those that call you an elitist are the same ones that bring nothing to a relationship with you. They just have not grown up. You on the other hand keep being you and the rest will take care of itself.

Remember, as Alexander Rozhenko said in Season 5, Episode 20 of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “The Higher, The Fewer.”

Thanks for your time,
Dave