Becoming the Change Maker

 According to "What's a Business For?" by Charles Handy, in spite of the government's efforts to improve the economy, most people do not perceive its relevance.  Our financial security cannot be guaranteed by the government. 

Businesses nowadays are generally viewed as profit-making enterprises.  It is believed by them that businesses exist to make more money than to benefit people.  If we change the system by creating a business image that people can trust, the economy will be better.  To be able to do that, we must live with integrity. We must think of the consumer’s benefit and plan better remuneration for employees. Doing this will develop care within the business and those surrounding it.  The consumers will support businesses with virtue and integrity.  Their trust will build a stronger and more abundant economy.

Charles Handy said, “I think many people assume, wrongly, that a company exists simply to make money. While this is an important result of a company’s existence, we have to go deeper and find the real reasons for our being. As we investigate this, we inevitably come to the conclusion that a group of people 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, a phrase that sounds trite but is fundamental.”

Based on what he said, businesses exist so they can contribute to society.  Therefore, as we think of products or services we offer to the public, we must ponder if those are great contributions to society.  Does it help the people?  Is it safe?  Is it quality?  As we answer those questions and many other questions, we can think of better ways how to manage our business and make it more beneficial to society.

Out of the many things Charles said, here are two solutions businesses can do:

First, The Hippocrates Oath, "Do NO Harm," will help restore the trust of the people in businesses.  It includes environmental issues, employees working conditions, community relations, and ethics. Doing no harm is never wrong.  It is simply caring for the welfare of others. 

Second, we need to associate with a cause in order to give purpose to our lives…  We should, as charitable organizations do, measure success in terms of outcomes for others as well as for ourselves.  This will help businesses have another vision, another reason to be diligent and persist in succeeding. A very compelling reason to serve humanity.

I am better able to recognize my own vision as a result of pondering these things.  It's my wish for my family, employees, community, and those in need of rescue to live in a better place.  I pray that God will help me create miracles for myself and for others through my business career.

In closing, let me share a thought from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: