Week #12

This week we finished reading the book "A Field Guide for the Hero's Journey".  As I read this book, I came to realize that it is a fantastic book to close out this course.  It summarizes many of the things that we have learned and done throughout the semester.  It discusses how to start the journey by stopping the excuses and keeping a journal.  We did this by starting this blog to track our progress each week.  This blog has helped me to realize the things that I have learned and grown from.  Also, I now am able to look back at this later on in my journey through business and see what concepts I can continue to learn and grow from.   The book continues through discovering who you want to be (not what you want to be), setting guardrails (the stars and stepping stones we created earlier this semester), choosing friends and companions wisely along this path (we created our personal board of directors to remind us of these important things), encounter and growing from obstacles & learning to overcome your fears (we did deconstructing our fears), making sure that you make time for rest and relaxation and lastly, encountering the challenge that will change your life.  All of these items together help guide us on our path through being an entrepreneur, but also are steps that will help guide us throughout our entire lives.


Now for questions regarding a reading "What's a Business For?" by Charles Handy

• Based on what you read in the first two pages (pages 3 and 4), why are virtue and integrity so vital to an economy?

The future of our economy is based on the choices of today.  We are saving now for our futures tomorrow.  For those in charge of corporations it is important for them to show integrity and virtue so that their employees and the public shareholders know they can depend upon them to make choices in the best interest of everyone, not just themselves.  If honesty is betrayed, it is hard to earn back.  Many people do not trust businesses with many fall outs that have happened and continue to be shown in the news.  Those in charge often are feeding their own interests before the interest of their shareholders or employees.  They are taking care of their retirement accounts and stock options now so they don't have to trust in those who take over for them when they retire.  With this lack of trust, comes the decline of money circulating throughout.  Without trust, why would we want to let go of our money?  

• According to Charles Handy, what is the “real justification” for the existence of businesses?

The "real justification" is that businesses need to make a profit so that they can do more or be better. 

• What are two solutions proposed by Handy that you agree with? Why?

I think that Handy's suggestion that businesses need to be involved with charitable giving is an excellent idea.  I know that many large corporations are involved with charities.  Hander says, "To survive, even to prosper, is not enough.  We hanker to leave a footprint in the sands of time".  Associating with giving back is something that builds up trust from the community. 

I also like his thoughts on compensating those who work harder through their skills and talents to for such.  The balance of working harder for your money would be more equal than currently when employees get compensated regardless of them doing just enough or whether they go above and beyond.  Spreading this I think would increase productivity in companies.