King Solomon, one of the wisest men of all time, reveals a key principle in one of his writings when he says:

“Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up!” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

While this verse is often quoted in the context of marriage, Solomon’s original intent goes beyond that. The subsequent part of the verse clarifies this: “They have a good reward for their labor.” Solomon is primarily referring to individuals engaged in work, tasks, projects, or business endeavors. Although applicable to marriage, the broader scope of this principle should not be overlooked in the various projects we undertake.

The principle of association is further developed and expanded by Jesus in the context of prayer when he says:

“Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.” – Matthew 18:19

Notice here that, in addition to association, Jesus introduces another fundamental principle: “the principle of agreement.” As mentioned earlier, failures can result from not being associated with the right person. Jesus extends the principle of association by revealing another crucial element: the principle of agreement.

This verse is frequently cited in the context of prayer, which is accurate as that is its primary meaning. However, delving deeper, we realize that Jesus not only unveils a key prayer principle but also a principle applicable to projects.

This principle aligns with that of unity. The Bible recounts the story of a highly successful enterprise based on the principles of association and agreement, so remarkable that even God Himself took notice.

Let me digress briefly regarding the Bible’s understanding and application in our daily lives.

Have you ever heard of Joseph’s economic plan? It’s the plan Joseph devised in Genesis 41 to confront the upcoming seven-year famine in Egypt. Although the term “economic plan” is not explicitly written in the Bible, reading the story in its context provides valuable insights applicable to our contemporary lives. Many individuals have gained influence in the field of economics by applying the principles from Joseph’s economic plan found in the Bible.

Returning to our narrative about this successful enterprise in the Bible, let me retell it with a less literal approach, offering a more contextual perspective that might resonate with the biographies of successful enterprises you often encounter:

Babel IMMO’s Story:

Babel IMMO was a real estate company specializing in building construction. Instead of choosing saturated cities like Paris or London, they decided to settle in a territory with minimal existing constructions. Babel IMMO’s CEO, King McLaren, possessed the ability to engage his teams in the grand vision. It was not about “him,” but rather about “all of them.” This is evident in the employees’ speeches, frequently using the phrase, “Let’s go!” They all shared a common vision and motivation: “Let’s make a name for ourselves, so that we will not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

This was their “Why.“

They agreed on their field of activity, real estate: “Let’s build a city and a tower with its top reaching into the sky.”

This was their “What.“

Finally, they chose to differentiate themselves from other builders by using bricks instead of stone and asphalt instead of cement: “Let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly. They used brick instead of stone and tar for mortar.”

This was their “How.“

Babel IMMO became a formidable enterprise, earning both respect and fear. Newspapers described them as follows: “They are one people and have one language, and this is what they have begun to do; now nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.”

Babel IMMO’s fame increased significantly during its time. The company achieved phenomenal success until, unfortunately, the teams divided for reasons not entirely known to the public. They started to speak different languages, and the cities they began to build ceased.

You may have already guessed that this is the story of the Tower of Babel, presented with a contemporary touch. What I wanted to highlight from this story is the power of the principle of agreement.

When the people during the Tower of Babel era were united (same language, same vision, same mission), nothing seemed impossible to them. They succeeded in whatever they undertook.

This is a key principle in success: agreement. Some might think:

“What you’re saying might be true, Alain, but when I look at my case, my associate(s) and I were in agreement. Yet, we did not succeed.”

That may be true. Let’s state it upfront: not all failures are solely linked to a lack of agreement. Several factors can come into play. However, I encourage you to read this book to the end. Perhaps you’ll find elements related to the application of the principle of agreement that you were not fully aware of. After all, what do you have to lose except a few hours of reading? You’ve already bought the book. So please, follow me to the end.

At this point in our introduction, the key takeaways are:

• We all face failures, with stakes of varying degrees. The projects, initiatives, and businesses we launch are not exempt from the risk of failure.
• Faced with failure, it is crucial to remember that God turns this failure into our good. In other words, there is something beneficial for us to extract from this failure. We have the responsibility to take the time to examine our failures and make the most of them.
• Several failures are due to the non-observance of two key principles:
  • The principle of association: “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor.”
  • The principle of agreement: “Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.”

The entire argument of this book is based on urging you to consider and use the principle of association and the principle of agreement in the right way to succeed in your projects.

This text is an excerpt from the book “Finding the Right Associate” written by Alain Patrice Ngaleu.