We the People

I love musicals. One of my favorites is “Singing in the Rain.” There is a scene near the movie’s end that unmasks the true villain of the show. The studio owner, RF, tells his leading lady, hoity-toity actress, Lena Lamont, that what she’s demanding is extremely under-handed.

“People just don’t do things like that,” he says, to which she responds in her high-pitched, grating voice (which is the problem in the first place), “Peeeeple!? I AIN’T PEEEEPLE!!”

Of course, the truth is revealed, justice prevails, and Lena learns an important lesson—we are all people, and we all matter. This happens off screen, of course, and we are making some assumptions.

In business, and in every other aspect in life, it all comes down to people. Can you think of one where it doesn’t?!?. If we want to be successful entrepreneurs, we need people. We can be effective if we solve people’s problems, help people with a need, or make people’s lives easier. If we want our business to grow, we’re going to need help from… you guessed it… people. Making them feel valued and intelligent is a win-win situation for both parties.

While there are many different personalities in the big, wide world, “there’s only one race, and that’s mankind.” (Garth Brooks, “We Shall Be Free”). The Golden Rule still applies.   

What’s that Smell?

I am sure anyone that has ever purchased potatoes has had this experience: There is an awful smell in the kitchen, but the problem is elusive. Finally your nose directs you to where your potato bag lies, and one of them has spoiled. When that has happened to me, I toss out the whole bag.

In “The Harvard Business Review” What’s a Business For? Author Charles Handy makes a similar analogy using apples. He says that “the markets would eventually sort the good from the bad… the world would go on much as before.” This happens less all the time.

There’s something stinky in the business community.

Integrity and virtue have become rare commodities. “Markets rely on rules and laws, but those rules and laws in turn depend on truth and trust. Conceal truth or erode trust, and the game becomes so unreliable that no one will want to play.” Handy has a point. In order for our system of free enterprise to continue, virtue and integrity must be at the center of every transaction. This would allow businesses to fulfill their true callings—making a difference in the world.

Yes, earning a profit is important, but it’s not everything. Funny thing about business--when an entrepreneur sets out to help someone or solve a problem instead of looking to make it rich, the business becomes successful, and the owner can become wealthy. It kind of reminds me of the principle of service; in serving others, we forget about our own problems.

Maybe there was some Greek businessman whom we could name an oath after (think Hippocrates). Businessmen would have to swear under threat of death (well, maybe not DEATH) to “first do no harm.” That might make one think twice before doing anything illegal or immoral. I like the idea of giving the “worker” more ownership in the business similar to what Germany has done. It would give the common laborer a little more pride and remind CEOs they don’t necessarily own the company.

There’s always the “drain the swamp” idea. Man, those stink, too. Hey, if it works for politics…

New Glasses

I just returned from a business trip with a friend of mine. We spent five days together somewhere warmer than where we live. We talked, laughed, whined a little, and then reminded each other how blessed we really are. We each returned home more relaxed, rejuvenated, with creative juices flowing and ready to make some positive changes in our business and personal lives. It was good to take a break and get lost for a while. We have come back with a new perspective.

In this week’s reading was a pamphlet entitled, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (A Cautionary Tale)”. The author listed methods of true happiness by getting “lost” in various activities, one of which was subtitled “Gratitude: Losing Yourself in Thanks and Generosity.” Some of the ways to do that include keeping a journal, volunteering, donating to a good cause, practicing gratitude, and having a positive attitude. I have had some personal success with consciously applying a good attitude to less than pleasant situations, and it has helped.

As an adult, I have had to get “new lenses” with which to view many things, including money. I recognize that the way I saw money in my childhood home has caused me to view it through an unhealthy filter as an adult. Incorrectly viewing one’s adult responsibilities can cause undue stress and strain on self and family. Skewed ideas about finances are no different. In fact, because money is so interwoven into every fabric of our lives, erroneous fiscal behaviors can be a leading cause of quick temporal, emotional, and spiritual decline.

In the Book of Mormon, Jacob teaches us the way to Lord’s way to prosper, “And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good.” Wealth itself is not evil. And, if we seek it in the Lord’s way and for his purposes, we can achieve it.

Who’s Your Buddy?

When my girls were young, I was a Girl Scout leader and took them to camp. I also spent time serving in Young Women and went to girls’ camp. Whenever one of the girls for which I was responsible wanted to leave the group for a short period of time for any reason, my direction was always the same.

Take a buddy with you.

It was never good to be off by oneself. It was always safer to travel in a pair. We humans like to do things with other humans. As it turns out, we should be kind of picky when choosing those other humans.

In his second letter to the people of Corinth, Paul tells them “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers,” meaning that the Saints of God should not marry those that are of another faith. Each individual needs to choose a spouse that has similar goals and values.

And, so it goes in business.

In “The Hero’s Journey,” Jeff Sandefer tells us to “choose your fellow travelers well” with what he calls three lessons:

1.     “Surround yourself with people of integrity”

2.     “Surround yourself with people who are optimistic”

3.     “Surround yourself with people who are passionate”

It’s been said that we become like those with whom we hang out with. It’s true. Guilt by association is a real thing. Think of the teenage boy who goes out behind the backstop with his friends during lunch break. The boy's friends light up a few cigarettes, but not the young man we're thinking about; he doesn't smoke. Yet, when the principal shows up, our young friend gets in trouble right along with those who are smoking just because he’s with them.

Author, public speaker, and entrepreneur Tim Ferris, who borrowed this concept from Jim Rohn, says, “You are the average of the five people you most associate with.”

If I’m going to be the average of five, I’d better pick a buddy or two with some pretty high stats.

Can I Say “Just Do It”?

President Spencer W. Kimball, frequently called a man of action, had a sign on his desk that read, “Do it.” Film producers shout the instruction, “Action!” and everybody on set is suddenly very busy. Even one of my favorite gym shoe and sports equipment companies, Nike, tells us… well, you get the picture.

It’s in the doing.

Take learning a language, say, Spanish. You can study and read about it all you want, but you will never be able to carry on a conversation with a native Spanish speaker if you don’t SPEAK it.  

I can get on a soap box and tell everyone how wonderful it is to eat right and exercise, but until someone takes my advice and ACTS on it, they’re never going to really know how beneficial that kind of lifestyle can be.

It’s the same way with the gospel. Kim B. Clark, former BYU Idaho President, affirms this. “You teach your children to obey the commandments of God by keeping the commandments of God… it is in the doing that there is real power to shape their lives.”

And, it’s the same way in business.

Elbert Hubbard demonstrates this in his essay “A Message to Garcia.” He said, “Replace the voices in your head with positive action. Turn away from the temptation to dwell on negative thoughts. Dwelling on fears only gives them more power. The best way to rid yourself of a fear is to take positive action. Courage isn’t the absence of fear but rather the ability to act in the face of it.”

Everybody has fears at some time or another. To overcome those fears, we must “Just Do It,” whatever “it” is.

There was no way I was NOT going to use that slogan; it’s just too good.