Stewardhip
The yellow sphere is a star. The small planet is known as Wasp-12b. The small planet is the hottest known planet in the Milky Way. Here is the story… Wasp-12b is getting eaten by its parent star, Wasp-12. Life in the Universe… it is what it is.
We often hear the expression that someone is ruthlessly using people to the top. Often businesses have one goal only…profits. It is almost like Wasp 12, stripping the little planet of its outer layers. There is no generosity in the Universe. Sadly the same can be said of certain sectors of our society.
Life on Earth is often what we make of it. There is an interdependence between humans that I think, is coded into our genes. We need this to survive. How do we do it?
I think the correct way lies in stewardship. Our role on Earth is that of a trustee. The idea is to use and to pass on our human legacy to the next generation in a better condition. This post is not about the environment, it is what we do in a business environment. What is our social responsibility? How will this translate to our relationships?
The first thing to do is to get our thinking sorted. Peter Block, Choosing Service over Self-Interest, said: Capitalism does not require profit to be the primary goal of an institution. It simply requires profit to provide a fair return on the investment. We find today that those profits are so exorbitant in some cases. Yet the employees are struggling to make ends meet. How can that be fair?
Non-profits are not excluded from the concept of generosity. Neither are clubs such as Toastmasters.
The burning questions are how good are we as a public speaking organisation as stewards of the common good. What is our prime object, to secure funds or to really serve? I find in many non-profits that they are so proud of the non-profit status, yet often the first sentence in paragraphs in governing documents is about one thing only… Money!
In other cases, the “topsoil” of their volunteers are eroded as the volunteers need to pay for so many things out of their own pockets. How can this be fair? How can it be fair when money is earmarked for development, then it is not used and the bank account is getting larger and larger but the funds are untouchable because it has been earmarked for something. Yet, volunteers struggle to make ends meet and have to support a large organisation out of their meager funds. How is that fair?
I am asking you for your opinion. Maybe you have answers? I am still looking.
Like beauty is in the eye of the beholder so too fairness is in the eye of the doer or receiver. Having been on boards of non profits with great mottos, just below their topsoils one often finds people who are as zealous about their vision as the greediest of fat cat company presidents are about profit. I loved you post about deleting people who are not part of you quest in life. I feel the same way. I see my role to add to the progress of whatever I do. I also feel that if vision destiny I am participating in is not being put to its best use I move on. I think it was Peter Drucker once said: "Calling it self a non profit does not mean their leaders should be incompetent or irresponsible." On the contrary leaders of non profits should be just as passionate about implementing their mission effectively as for profit businesses. The net result will mean that they will have more to invest in their mission.
ReplyDeleteYes John, a great example was Enron with their lofty vision and mission statements. I am so tired if people and businesses telling me how wonderful they are. I feel like saying, just show me and I will decide who great you are. Ha-ha. I think we are kindred spirits.
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