First, read my earlier blog entry titled “Uncommon Courtesy”. I promise to treat you with the utmost respect and courtesy, but I must insist that you do the same. Otherwise, this exchange will be brief, and I would regret that. A spirited, yet respectful debate is very hard to come by these days. I would enjoy it I think.

Second, assume that I am a man of the highest integrity, rather than a villain. We have never met, therefore I can’t imagine why you would assume the worst about me. Assume that my attributing the referenced quote to Stephen, rather than Neem Karoli Baba, was due to my hearing Stephen say it (perhaps even in the context of a “It has been said” moment), and me being ignorant of relatively obscure Hindu gurus (a common frailty among western-educated academics).

Assume that no one was trying to rip anyone off, or rob another of intellectual property. I take great pains to give credit where credit is due, it’s simply that very few people can be assured that the people they quote are the very first people to ever utter a particular thought. In fact, no one is even certain that Baba was the very first to ever speak those words. Rest assured however, that if I find that he, in fact, did speak the quote in question, he will get full credit for it.

That said, you clearly feel that FranklinCovey is a reprehensible organization whose purpose is to deceive it’s customers, and profit thereby. This is of concern to me, as I have not found that to be the case (and I have been affiliated with them for 17 years).

I await your thoughtful response.