Platinum Rule

We are all familiar with the Golden Rule that states, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  When my son was in graduate school getting his Masters in International Management he learned about the Platinum Rule which says, "Do unto others as they would have you do unto them."  There is such a difference in thinking that if we treat others the way we want to be treated that all is well.  What we have learned over many many years is that other cultures and people from other parts of the country or world may not want to be treated the way we do.  How nice to consider how they might want to be treated.

I remember hearing about the new Chevy Nova several years ago.  That name worked just fine in the U.S. but in Mexico "no va" meant it won't go and that didn't sell many cars.  That is definitely an example of something that worked for us but not for others.  I think it is incredible that we have learned so much about diverse cultures, populations and rituals.  The more we learn about others the easier it is to understand them and respect those differences.   Most of our disagreements, fights and wars come from the thinking that our way is the only way and if other people would just do as we desire that all would work out fine.  That rarely is the case.

So consider the Platinum Rule and how much better off we all could be if we treat people the way they want to be treated.  When we do that we automatically focus our attention on the other person instead of ourselves and by merely taking that step we are validating them and the richness of the difference.