What's a Business For?

Muhammad Yunus is one of the first people that stirred a great desire in me to do something that could make a difference to others.  He saw that making the world a better place for others is where the joy and fulfillment can be found.  I am excited that Sara Endline has made a successful business for herself in the candy industry, and she her encouragement for social responsibility and understanding among diverse cultures is making a difference. She also has great ideas on problem solving and being prepared to run the marathon.  But Muhammad…I want to be able to do something like that – something life changing for others.  He found joy in helping others with just a small donation.  I think an experience like that can truly show how much we take for granted.  I didn’t think twice about spending $27 on a pair of pants.  Being able to bless the lives of 42 people sounds so much more fulfilling.  We all do have some God given talents and skills, that if given the right opportunity, we could do something with.  Helping others recognize what their individual talents are, and helping them get to a place where they can turn and bless others is the ultimate goal in life for me. 

I have watched Trace grow and learn many things about himself over the last few months.  He is beginning the think outside of himself.  He is beginning to trust the inspiration and guidance he has access to.  It was not that long ago that certain choices he made led us through a period of great stress and frustration.  Trust is something that is so easily destroyed.  “Trust, too, is fragile.  Like a piece of china, once cracked it is never quite the same.”  (What’s a Business For, Charles Handy, p 3)  It is really hard when you lose trust in someone you love. 

In the world, I think there is a tendency to not trust many people.  Being a member of the church, I have quickly come to trust others, almost to a fault.  I don’t take the time to get to know others and experience things with them before making that judgement call.  On the other hand, who am I to judge?

“Truth seemed to easily sacrificed to expediency.” (Handy, p 3)  We have to trust our instincts at some point also.  So how do we find that balance?  I know there are several companies lately that have been penalized for standing up for something they believed in.  I respect those companies, and love that their integrity was strong enough.  Virtue and integrity are something that must be present if a company is to succeed for the duration.  It can affect their customers support and referrals.  People’s actions speak so much louder than their words.  If their actions do not stand for the principles they claim to have, they will not succeed.  Sooner or later, their actions will catch up to them. 

Charles Handy suggested that a business is simply “a group of people [who] get together and exist as an institution that we call a company so that they are able to accomplish something collectively that they could not accomplish separately – they make a contribution to society…[which] is fundamental.” (p 7-8)  If we can work with others who have the same values and principles that we have, we can be a much stronger force.  I see that even in service projects.  When 30 people come together to accomplish a task, and they work together for the common goal, they are able to accomplish more in a shorter amount of time, then freeing them up to turn and bless others.  I also think that those actions can inspire others to look around them and see who they can help.

“Business needs to take the lead in areas such as environmental and social sustainability instead of forever letting itself be pushed onto the defensive.” (Handy, p 7)  They need to consider more than themselves and their profits.  If they take the time to consider their employees, their customers, the work environment, etc, the group as a whole can be more effective.  The desire to work together increases and more success will be seen.

That also leads to another suggestion: “If a company takes seriously the idea of itself as a wealth-creating community with members rather than employees…” (p 6) they might find those members to have a greater interest in the success of the project at hand.  They can be acknowledged for their efforts and become more valuable as a team player.  How others are treated, in any situation, will greatly affect their efforts given.  Employees are not just the means for the business owner to become wealthy.

Both of these suggestions can be applied many life situations…callings, families, service opportunities.  We can be more successful and accomplish more if we work together and treat each other with respect.  We each have different talents and skills.  Let’s help each other successfully strengthen and support those talents and together, we can help make a difference in the world.