DataLifters, LLC

COUNT THE COST

No leader is an island. Throughout history, the division of labor has not merely been an economic principle – it has been the prerequisite for civilized society. In particular, consultation and advisory services have proven integral to the execution of any great endeavor. Even storied rulers with absolute authority and legendary prophets of intense spiritual discipline recognized the danger of isolation in decision-making and the successes they owed to sound counsel.

Champions made through counsel, and those fallen short for lack thereof, fill the pages of Scripture. Their archetypal achievements and tragedies have guided generations and continue to serve us today. Moses preserved a wandering nation through the vision of Jethro, while Rehoboam fractured Solomon’s legacy by dismissing his seasoned cabinet. Jesus himself asked in Luke 14:28-31, “…which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost… [or] what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able…?”

Taking the everlasting words of Christ to heart, let us count the cost of forgoing sound counsel in business by analyzing these ancient accounts, which set high standards for glory and issue grave warnings against decay. The conduct of leadership cascades in its effects: first within the self, outward towards colleagues, then within each family and through their broader communities. In an age of high technology and an accompanied increase of remote work, the repercussions of business conduct can spread faster and farther than ever before. Thus, it is in the highest interest of all leaders to act with equal diligence and resolve. If you are as deliberate in your consultations as you intend to be in your actions, St. Benedict assures in the third chapter of The Rule of St. Benedict that “thou shalt not repent…”

THE JETHRO PRINCIPLE

The earliest recorded management consulting engagement was between the prophet Moses and his father-in-law, Jethro. As he led Israel out of Egypt, Moses was severely beleaguered by operational overhead, personally judging every common grievance day in and day out. Exodus 18:13 records that “Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.” Facing a backlog that grew heavier by the day, Moses risked failing his higher calling by remaining chained to daily dispute resolution. As a priest, prince, and trusted elder, Jethro had the standing to challenge this practice. He asked Moses point-blank in Exodus 18:14, “Why sittest thou alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?” warning candidly furthermore in Exodus 18:17, “The thing that thou doest is not good.”

“Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel…“

Unmoved by the proposition that each statute need be delivered directly by Moses unto the people, Jethro urged him in Exodus 18:18 to delegate authority to trustworthy men of each tribe: “Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.” What followed became the first masterclass in organizational design:

Thus, the governance structure of an enduring nation was born. By appointing judges over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, Moses was liberated to focus on higher spiritual leadership. He surely internalized this lesson, lamenting in Deuteronomy 32:28 that Israel had become “a nation void of counsel” and “neither [was] there any understanding in them.”

Executive leadership today would be wise to heed the Jethro Principle, focusing on the mission and requisite alignment duties so that the corporate body may endure. Removing yourself from daily operational minutiae is not an abrogation of duty – it is an act of stewardship that creates a scalable foundation. Delegation demands a model for the tiered organization of decision-making responsibilities, the consolidation of authority within each tier, and a mechanism for the transfer of ideas up the chain of command.

THE SCORPION KING

If Jethro represents the triumph of seeking seasoned counsel, Rehoboam serves as a stark warning against its dismissal. Upon the death of Solomon, Rehoboam inherited a kingdom strained by heavy taxation and labor demands. As recorded in 1 Kings 12:4, the tribal leaders of Israel then approached him with a reasonable petition: lighten the oppressive demands of his father, and the people would serve him faithfully forever.

Rehoboam feigned prudence, consulting his court for three days. He turned first to the elders who had served his father. Solomon, a man to this day synonymous with wisdom, understood their value, writing in Proverbs 11:14, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” These seasoned statesmen advised Rehoboam through a model of pastoral stewardship in 1 Kings 12:7, “If thou wilt be a servant unto this people… answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.”

Yet Rehoboam would succumb to hubris and seek the more comfortable sycophancy of his childhood peers. Seemingly intoxicated by power and reckless ambition, these new advisors offered foolish validation. At their behest, Rehoboam would declare in 1 Kings 12:14, “My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” The cost of his arrogance was immediate and catastrophic: ten of the twelve tribes of Israel revolted and fractured the kingdom forever.

The corporate parallel is as critical today as it was in antiquity. When executives retreat into an echo chamber that merely validates their biases – rather than surrounding themselves with impartial experts who challenge their blind spots – organizational ruin is inevitable. Dismissing wise, experienced counsel in favor of agreeable consensus will always lead directly to alienated stakeholders, a broken culture, and a fractured market presence.

FORTIFIED WITH WALLS

The contrast between Moses and Rehoboam highlights a fork in the road of character development every leader encounters. Moses recognized his limits, embraced wise counsel, and built a legacy that outlasted his lifetime. Rehoboam mistook authority for immunity, discounted expert guidance, and shattered a nation overnight. Seeking outside wisdom to navigate complex choices is not weakness – it is the exact virtue praised by the early Desert Fathers. As recorded in the Apophthegmata Patrum, Abba Moses the Black observed that “a man who seeks counsel from others is like a city fortified with walls; but he who acts alone is like a desert hut ready to collapse.”

For business leaders navigating an era of unprecedented complexity, the stakes extend far beyond the boardroom. Decisions made in isolation ripple outward, directly impacting employees, families, and broader economic ecosystems. When an organization is led with true stewardship – relieving friction and building stability – it creates a positive feedback loop that strengthens company culture, sharpens execution, and earns civic trust. True diligence requires more than good intent; it demands the humility to seek, test, and apply sound counsel before taking decisive action. By surrounding yourself with trusted advisors rather than leading in isolation, you safeguard your organization against avoidable decay and build a foundation designed to endure.