“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The Golden Rule is elegantly beautiful in its stark simplicity yet while principles are often simple, application can be complex.
Particularly in a business context, “others” means not just the person in front of you but also all other stakeholders, in rough proportion to their interest. In other words, you can’t “give away the store” to please the person in front of you because that is not in the best interest of the store owner or the investors (pensioners?) in the bank that lent money to the store. Also, if the store goes out of business or fails to make a sufficient return to stay viable, it hurts all the Team Members whose families depend on their paycheck from the store to put food on the table and pay the rent.
The Collier Companies aspires to a Golden Rule Company Culture; to honor the Social Contract, to treat all with respect, to live Main Street values (v. Wall Street!). We sincerely believe that profit is like happiness, certainly the ultimate goal, but often best achieved when not pursued directly. Instead, profit is an inevitable byproduct of intelligently running a good business, taking good care of your Customers, your Team Members, your suppliers, and your investors.
Closing Quotes:
“My Golden Rule is this: ‘Do unto others 25% better than you expect them to do unto you.’ The 25% is for error.” – Linus Pauling, 1901-1994 (chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, educator; published 1200+ papers and books, 850 on scientific topics)
“Do not do to others what angers you if done to you by others.” – Socrates, 470-399 BC
“What you seek for others you find for yourself.” – Matshona Dhliwayo, author (The Little Book of Inspiration, Creativity, The Book, 50 Lessons Every Wise Mother Teaches Her Son, 100 Lessons Every Great Man Wants You to Know, The Little Book of Secrets to Happiness)
“Do unto others as they wish, but with imagination.” – Marcel Duchamp, 1887-1968, painter, sculptor, chess player, author
As always, I share what I most want/need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier
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