My business ethics in a nutshell

What do motivations based on ideas of right and wrong have to do with business? Well, what is right and wrong? What is virtue? Is there any such thing as universal morality? And what the does that have to do with making money?

First virtue, to be motivated by one’s beliefs about what is right. 

Second, what is universally right. How about the recognition that ones own freedom ends where the freedom of others begins. One has the right to defend his or her freedom as well as the freedom of others. But one does not have the right to impose his or her will on others. Others can debate this, but I won’t. This seems pretty black and white to me. 

So is that it? Just respect the freedom of others? Is it possible to respect the freedom of others and still be a cocksucker? Is it possible to be ruthless or dishonest without preventing others from exercising their freedom? 

Is there a more practical interpretation of virtue? How about being motivated by maximizing the freedom of others? Seems pretty virtuous to me. 

So what the does this have to do with making money? Is it possible to align a business model with the above interpretation of virtue? Is business a zero sum game? Is it possible to maximize the freedom of others without giving up your own? Is it possible to make money and help others?

Sometimes you have to measure your short term interests against your long term interests. In more practical terms, maybe you should try to be more transparent and fair about what you offer. Maybe you should try to think about whether or not you are really offering a deal that you yourself would accept. 

In the long term, isn’t this the best way to create a community of loyal patrons? Isn’t such a community the only thing of value that an enterprise can build?

Think about it. 

May 07, 2015 /Georges Landry