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Read About It • Language Points • Content Awareness • Language Focus
The Moral Advantage How to succeed in business by doing the right thing As for the moral advantage in business, of all places, everyone knows a modicum of ethics is called for in any business-you cant cheat your customers forever and get away with it. But wouldn't it be more advantageous if you actually could get away with it? Profits would soar out of sight. Then you would reall have an advantage, or so the thin king might go The notion of seeking the moral advantage is a new way of thin king about ethics and virtue in business. an approach that does not accept the need for trade-offs between ambition and conscience. Far from obstructing the drive for success, a sense of moral purpose can help individuals and companies achieve at the highest -and most profitable levels
As for the moral advantage in business, of all places, everyone knows a modicum of ethics is called for in any business — you can’t cheat your customers forever and get away with it. But wouldn't it be more advantageous if you actually could get away with it? Profits would soar out of sight! Then you would really have an advantage, or so the thinking might go. The Moral Advantage How to succeed in business by doing the right thing The notion of seeking the moral advantage is a new way of thinking about ethics and virtue in business, an approach that does not accept the need for trade-offs between ambition and conscience. Far from obstructing the drive for success, a sense of moral purpose can help individuals and companies achieve at the highest — and most profitable — levels
Cynicism dominates our attitudes about what it takes to succeed in business. A common way of thin king about morality in business goes something like this: Ethical conduct is an unpleasant medicine that society forces down business people's throats to protect the public interest from business avarice Morality gets in the way of the cold, hard actions truly ambitious people must take to reach their goals. Moneymaking is inevitably tainted by greed, deceit, and exploitation. The quest for profits stands in opposition to everything that is moral fair. decent and charitable
Cynicism dominates our attitudes about what it takes to succeed in business. A common way of thinking about morality in business goes something like this: Ethical conduct is an unpleasant medicine that society forces down business people's throats to protect the public interest from business avarice. Morality gets in the way of the cold, hard actions truly ambitious people must take to reach their goals. Moneymaking is inevitably tainted by greed, deceit, and exploitation. The quest for profits stands in opposition to everything that is moral, fair, decent, and charitable
Skepticism about moneymaking goes back a long way. The Bible warns that it's harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Behind every great fortune, wrote French novelist Honore de Balzacl in the 1800s, "lies a great crime. British author G. K. Chesterton sounded the same theme in the early 20th century. noting that a businessman "is the only man who is forever apologizing for his occupation. The contemporary media often characterize business as nothing more than a self-serving exercise in greed, carried out in as corrupt and ruthless a manner as possible. In television and movies, moneymaking in business is tainted by avarice, exploitation, or downright villainy. The unflattering portrayals have become even more pointed over time. In 1969, the
Skepticism about moneymaking goes back a long way. The Bible warns that it's harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. “Behind every great fortune,” wrote French novelist Honoréde Balzac1 in the 1800s, “lies a great crime.” British author G. K. Chesterton sounded the same theme in the early 20th century, noting that a businessman “is the only man who is forever apologizing for his occupation.” The contemporary media often characterize business as nothing more than a self-serving exercise in greed, carried out in as corrupt and ruthless a manner as possible. In television and movies, moneymaking in business is tainted by avarice, exploitation, or downright villainy. The unflattering portrayals have become even more pointed over time. In 1969, the
businessman in Philip roth,s Goodbye, Columbus advises the storys protagonist, "To get by in business, youve got to be a bit of a thief. He seems like a benignly wise, paternal figure compared with Wall streets 1980s icon, Gordon Gekko4, whose immortal words were“ Greed is good” Yet some important observers of business see things differently Widely read gurus such as Stephen Covey5 and Tom Peters5 point to the practical utility of moral virtues such as compassion, responsibility, fairness, and honesty. They suggest that virtue is an essential ingredient in the recipe for success, and that moral standards are not merely commendable choices but necessary components of a thriving business career. This is a frequent theme in commencement addresses and other personal testimonials: Virtuous behavior advances a career in the long run by building trust and reputation, whereas ethical shortcomings eventually derail careers. The humorist Dorothy
businessman in Philip Roth's Goodbye, Columbus advises the story’s protagonist, “To get by in business, you’ve got to be a bit of a thief.” He seems like a benignly wise, paternal figure compared with Wall Street's 1980s icon, Gordon Gekko4, whose immortal words were “Greed is good.” Yet some important observers of business see things differently. Widely read gurus such as Stephen Covey5 and Tom Peters5 point to the practical utility of moral virtues such as compassion, responsibility, fairness, and honesty. They suggest that virtue is an essential ingredient in the recipe for success, and that moral standards are not merely commendable choices but necessary components of a thriving business career. This is a frequent theme in commencement addresses and other personal testimonials: Virtuous behavior advances a career in the long run by building trust and reputation, whereas ethical shortcomings eventually derail careers. The humorist Dorothy