Legitimate Authority

Dr. Lawrence Kohlberg first used the concept of legitimate authority when describing moral development and ultimately decision making skills. “Legitimate Authority” is a concept that I use to understand the decision making process of most people. What the concept basically means is that some people make decisions based on what people might think of them, rather than on the principle of the situation. This is especially the case in young adults as they seem to give into peer pressure situations and in some cases tend to make very poor decisions. Legitimate authority decision making is also based on the concept that people make decisions based on what people think, but they can choose for themselves which people are important to them, thus legitimate authorities in their lives. The legitimate authority concept then develops, after a period of trial and error, into a core value of decision making based on the principle of the situation because one begins to see themselves as the “legitimate authority”. The better one gets at making CONSISTENTLY good choices the more confident they become in the authority that they have given themselves (positive self concept).

We value the input of our patrons, inspectors and team and in the end we view all of these as sources of legitimate authority because you matter. However, when it comes to making concrete decisions about our product many of the decisions that we make are based in principle carried over to give you as “legitimate authorities” the best that we can.

Concerns about MSG in Our Product?

First of all, let me outline the ingredients that that goes into our fine product; Beef, Seasoning Soy Sauce -(Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Water, Salt, Corn Syrup, Caramel Coloring), Onion, Garlic, Sugar, Ginger , Paprika, and MSG. We then add chipotle pepper to our chipotle product, crushed red pepper to our Crushed red Pepper product or add habanero to our habanero product.

MSG is not something that we add to our ingredients. Follow me on this – MSG naturally occurs in anything that is “hydrolyzed” as part of the manufacturing process, so we do not add MSG… it just occurs as a natural byproduct of the manufacturing process- specifically in our case, as we use soy sauce. So we are obligated to report it. I have included a link that speaks to this:

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html

We are truthful about our labeling even though it may cause a negative comment from time to time about the MSG. MSG seems to occur in many of the products that we eat and some of us don’t even know it.

Ever order a great steak at popular steak house? There is a big chance that it was marinated in a hydrolyzed sauce of some sort – thus containing “MSG”. The difference is that when you get the steak it is still hydrated and the full component of the MSG swirls around in the juices in its original form.

When you get the beef jerky it is completely dehydrated and less than a teaspoon of our recipe went into it. Big difference if you ask me. So rest assured, WE do not take an MSG shaker and add a “pinch” to our recipe. All we do is make a heck of a jerky product.

To Take for Granted…

Assumptions are made every single day that we are awake. Assumptions are also made when we are asleep. The difference is the consciousness level of the assumption. The most practiced assumption that we make as individuals is to take something for granted.

There must be a balance and focus of three elementary elements in order for us to become more conscientious. There must be an ability to maintain order and focus between thinking, feeling and acting.

The acting aspect is what we are more in tune with these days. Delay of gratification is seldom the mindset, as we typically act in the direction of immediate gratification with no thoughts. Acting with no balance and focus ends up in burn out of the action, loss of focus and typically something goes wrong. It also ends with an adverse feeling of the given action after the fact which then affects thinking. Simply put, taking something for granted is a matter of perceptive focus. It is a matter of a belief that you have developed because of the burn out factor that was self imposed.

Children often say, “they are bored”, “there is nothing to do”, almost always because of the mismatch of emotions and ultimate perceptions. This can also be a symptom of a bigger problem. A major part of the problem is overindulgence. Too many choices throws the balance off and an assumption that there is satisfaction in something else takes precedent. When the reality is there is inevitable burnout in the new experience because the cycle of the perception issue.

Ever go the beach? It is just sand, fresh air and water. But the reality is that a very small percentage of people, both young and elderly, take this for granted. No matter how many times an individual goes to the beach the feeling, thinking and acting is seldom out of balance and the focus is a good time. Thus the experience gives rise to a belief that prompts action that yields positive results that at long lasts ends in a cycle of trust that going to the beach will be a good time.

Stop and smell the roses, witness a sunrise or sunset, watch your children play, all while maintaining a balance while you do – the result is living life with very little assumptions. AND – What a pure way to live…