I’m always thinking about ethics, standards, contribution and community. For me it’s about how I can connect to my purpose in ways that I can give back as well as produce my livelihood. It’s a work in progress that’s for sure. The flawed western capitalist model has always been at odds with me. An excessive focus on greed, not looking after the workforce, little regard for relationship or the impact of what we may do to the environment has all contributed to business and corporations having a bad rap in peoples minds and hearts (and with many corporations, deservedly so) At what point did these business swap their ethics and hear for large corporate greed? They must all have started out small originally. What changes do you think?
The Trappist monks of Mepkin Abbey in North Carolina USA run an array of profitable businesses without compromising integrity or values. Author August Turak, spent 17 years with the monks learning their secrets and wrote a book about his learning’s. Here are his key points:
1. Always honour your promises—even small or trivial ones. People will gauge your reliability on the big things by how you handle the little ones.
2. Keep promises to yourself because doing so connects you with your willpower and self-control, virtues that are essential to trustworthiness. Willpower is like any other muscle; it needs daily exercise to stay in shape.
3. Under-commit and over-deliver. Only make promises that you know you will be able to keep. The quickest ways to lose respect is to bail on your promises, and remember you can always re-negotiate or reset your timing.
4. Protect your personal brand. Get in the habit of asking yourself, “How will this decision affect my personal brand?” In the long run, your reputation is your most valuable asset.
Great advice – I am going to keep striving toward my inner monk. For more information on Trappist monks click here:
Until next week, stay happy
Andy xx
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