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An Unlikely Alliance

Joseph Tom Riach – Author of successful living books and mystery novels, vivid views of life and business

AN UNLIKELY ALLIANCE 
by Joseph Tom Riach

 

is the 8th and last in my 2021 series of   Winter Warmers. The musings are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories. My hope is that in them you find joy and   inspiration.

  Margaret was the senior Middle-East correspondent for one of America's leading quality newspapers. A highly intelligent yet quietly spoken New Yorker, she was hounded from her employment during the McCarthy era. That time when accusations of communist subversion in high places was rife. Not that she was a communist nor a sympathiser. She simply refused to denounce colleagues as being so.

  Angry and disillusioned, she relocated to London. There she continued her career as a freelance journalist; her knowledge and international reputation ensuring her of regular commissions from journals worldwide. In London she met Beryl who would become her companion and soulmate. Together they moved to south-west France. It was there that I met them.

  In comparison to Margaret, Beryl was an unsophisticated character, a rough diamond with an abrasive edge. She called a spade a spade and had little time for social finery. After-dinner pleasantries were not for Beryl. It was with Margaret that I shared fascinating chat – not to mention quite a few bottles of good Bordeaux! - into the wee hours on many happy occasions. Time spent with Beryl was more likely to be when repairing machinery or renovating old properties, anything that involved dirty hands and vulgar language!

  Yet, in spite of the huge difference in their personalities, their intellect and their likes and dislikes in life, Margaret and Beryl formed a perfect partnership. They were totally devoted to each other. Theirs was an unlikely alliance – but it worked!

  This is the key point to note. It is neither necessary nor desirable to seek out relationships in life or business only with 'perfect' partners. A route to 'success' equally likely to produce positive results is to work with people of various backgrounds, skills, attitudes and ideas. Such arrangements bring more to the collective table.

  I developed a lot of business this way. In early instances often unintentionally. But once I found myself working with, and benefiting from, people and situations of improbable diversity, I realised the advantages of such setups. I came to see that an unlikely alliance is frequently the most profitable. They are also most fun. So I actively sought out the rare and exotic, the eccentric and quirky to work with. So too should you. You'll be the more entertained, the more relaxed and the more richly rewarded through it.

  Margaret's former employer degenerated over time into a partisan rag of third rate journalism. An environment with no place for journalistic integrity such as Margaret's. Today it is conservatives who are hounded from their employment amid baseless accusations of extremism. Apart from the 'colour of the flag', not much has changed in that respect. It is sad. The loss to any organisation through an insistence that everyone think and act the same is the loss of quality. Without quality, individualism and original thought they stagnate.

  Don't let this be you or your business. Be like Margaret, Beryl, me. Welcome in the contrary, diverse, unusual and outrageous. Dare to be different. Form an unlikely alliance. Do it today!

 I am Tom Riach. I live and write in the sunny south of Portugal. 

Claim your special copy of my best seller mystery novel - 'Too Early For A Glass Of Wine?' - by clicking on the image below.

Joseph Tom Riach, Author – Paperbacks and Ebooks for sale on Amazon

AN UNLIKELY ALLIANCE  is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Winter Warmer and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

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© Copyright Joseph T.Riach 1998-present. All rights reserved.
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Comments

  • Top Commentor

    These are words of wisdom Tom.  Margaret seen the future of main stream, so called journalism and left that bankrupt profession alone.  She took a chance finding her niche and was successful at it.  And who wants to be around people who always agree with you there is no growth or fun it that.  Journalistic integrity was dying back then, now it's truly dead.  Except, as it was then, in the alternative media.  

    • Top Commentor

      Nicely put Robin. Real education is about thinking for oneself, exploring differences and enjoying diversity of thought and opinion. Not much of that around today's intolerant twitter headline regurgitators! Hope your Sunday has been a fun day!

  • Top Member

    Excellence for sure Tom and I can validate what you're saying is true. I believe in using my creative imagination, that is letting my subconscious mind work for me. I learned long ago how it works and it has helped me accomplish so much in my life. Daring to be different is what I'm about Tom. SE is my baby and I'm very proud of what I created. It's so great that we met and I'm so happy to know you. I believe you're a talented writer, businessman and educator. You're what I call a go-giver. 

    • Top Commentor

      Thanks Terri. Having the opportunity to learn from such as Margaret and Beryl is one of the great privileges I've enjoyed. I'm very fortunate to have known them.

    • Top Member

      After reading your post, I feel safe in saying they were a blessing in your life. I feel the same way about you. I'm very, very fortunate to know you Tom. I must mention that your new book is wonderful. Anyone reading my comments should definitely get a copy of it right away.  

  • Top Commentor

    Thanks John, great to hear from you. Yes, the thing is to embrace and engage with all kinds of positive personalities. It is the way to grow and to learn. Just off to read your latest offering, I don't expect to be disappointed.

  • Top Commentor

    Another excellent post...

This reply was deleted.