Week 12

Update on the entrepreneur opportunity - my co-worker approached my boss today and said, "If you ever want to sell this business, Annie and I are interested."  Now, I'm sure my husband would have liked to be consulted on this, but this would actually be a fantastic opportunity in the long term.  He didn't immediately decline us, so we'll leave the offer on the table.  Since Bryan, my boss has been told that he has two to five years left to live, this could work out as a win-win for all of us.    

This week's reading on "What's a Business For?" reports that most people believe that executives are making decisions based on personal rewards and not for the company's betterment or its employees.  Since it's usually the manpower that runs a company, executives would be wise to invest in the company's greatest asset - its employees.  Virtue and integrity are an integral part of being successful in business, examples include the many businesses that have give-back programs and have high customer approval.  The Harris Poll rates Patagonia #1with an 82.7% approval for Corporate Reputation,  followed by Honda Motor Company, Moderna, Chick-Fil-A, and SpaceX.  These companies all have a high standard of employee and customer loyalty and it has proven to be very successful for them.  

Charles Handy says, "The purpose of a business, in other words, is not to make a profit, full stop. It is to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better."  I believe the companies that install this business plan are more successful.  The ice bucket challenge is an incredible example of how funneling funds into research and development can pay off. Approximately $200 million was donated toward ALS studies and now an experimental medication is available to patients.  Proving that like Spiderman's Uncle says, "With great power, comes great responsibility".  Companies have a great ability to change the world.