The Idealist Businessman

#business #leadership

Subjects covered: business ethics, entrepreneurialism, moral compass, the power of money

It has been a long journey to get from the first seeds of a business idea to incorporating TPC. There was no lucid dream or eureka moment. My first ideas were creative whereabouts; a magazine, a bookshop, the first of which failed, the second never began. However, the act of trying to realize those ideas, take them out of my mind and place them into the real world, was a personal and unique act. And strangely enough, by trying and failing and trying again I was made aware that it was also my version of creativity, and I shared something with all the people of the world - that is, that given half a chance i will do something liberating, something free, and something creative.

So does it matter what I've created? And does an act of freedom come with any strings attached? What is the nature of invention? And does the fact that we're forced to think in terms of monetization and competition cause us to think less about what's right and more about ourselves? Should our creative acts be pegged to social improvements? Should the foundations of a successful business be distinguished by what "good" they do, and if so, what is the criteria for good?

Ultimately, can business and the collective economy, be a driving force for good? Or is it an idealist's dream?

Because I'm an idealist running a business, and this means my thoughts can often become polarized; on the one side I believe that my small successful business will grow into a large successful business, partly because I want to take myself out of the rat race but also that I want to see people I've employed excel themselves; on the other I see the myriad of corporations and am sickened by a certain lack of responsibility, their manipulation of their customers, the over-emphasis on the psychology of consumers, and ultimately I see many of their products causing no good to people, in many cases they are just harmful.

So, can an idealist compete in that world or are we consigned to the graveyard? Are decision-makers in those corporations aware of their actions? It's easy to consider who those corporations are: those who manufacture cigarettes, well-known brands with sweat shops in the Philippines, or the plethora of industrial food and beverage companies with dubious, some would say lethal, ingredients directly supporting the deterioration of our nations' health. It's all short-term, destructive and damaging.

Add. To. The. List.

We don't have to answer the question but we are forced to question why this is happening. By studying the nature and evolution of big business it's forced me into something of a moral and ethical pledge, whereby my actions and decisions can be put under scrutiny.

TPC solve data-related problems supported through visual analytic software. We support client's strategic goals. We help them make the big decisions more easily. 

So do we care what those decisions relate to? Damn right we do.

Would a corporation's adherence to socioethical policies influence our desire to break bread with our clients? Damn right it would.

Money has the ability to hold morals in thrall and make virtues and sins interchangeable. It applies pressures that force even the most upstanding of people into decisions they'd prefer not to make. How many people are slumming it in their minds harbouring desires so at odds with their current life view? What various money trap are they in? Have I unwittingly entered an entrepreneurial money trap by setting up a business?

So doesn't the question become: what will I do if I become wildly rich? How will I react? How will my morals fare? And what of failure? Will I compromise my values to feed my family? Will I even think in terms of sins and virtues?

Well, I think i would....at least i'm thinking about it now....

Before anyone begins to question who this applies to, a quick skim through of our LinkedIn feeds will reveal a lot of positivity, job-love, brand-love, but we're in a highly transparent world where negativity is deemed a social faux pas and risky. How easy is it to do what you want to do when all private decisions have a price tag associated with them and don't remain private for long?

If I'm not speaking to anyone's inner thoughts then there's no harm done. If any of you who read this feel that spark of recognition then i can't think of anything better than to have a chat.

Ultimately, I want to give myself the opportunity to chose my own environment and surround myself with people who give me the most enjoyment; people who might help me become a better person. My entrepreneurial streak tells me that if that place doesn't exist today then I must create it tomorrow. By revealing your thoughts and inspiring yourself to be positively creative in whatever walk of life you choose, you may change the world for the better.

But you will certainly feel better no matter what the outcome.

David Porter is the CEO & Founder of The Porter Consultancy (TPC) s.r.o.           a business and data intelligence consultancy advising clients from start-ups to global corporations.