by Ron Busby

Created on: July 01, 2008

When did ethics become a dirty word? It is all about the bottom line. Where has the pride in workmanship gone? What was once upon a time commonplace, pride in doing the right thing is now considered extraordinary? Even to consider this question regarding the importance of business ethics verses profits is offensive. Our moral compasses as a society have gone awry. There was a time in this world where this question would not even be tabled for discussion. The reason for being in business, any business is to make a profit.

The price of operating ethically and still minding the bottom line should not be at odds with one another. As a publicly traded company management has a fiduciary responsibility to the share holders to make a profit. Why then do we find ourselves scratching our collective heads over how to ethically turn a profit? It used to be that a person's word was their bond. When deals were concluded over a cup of coffee and a handshake and you knew beyond a shadow of any doubt that it was to be done the right way. The reputation of the business was at stake, not to mention personal reputations. You lived or died by how you conducted yourself in business.

The lines have become distorted to the point that what was once looked upon as a gray area is now the normal way to conduct business. Finding the loopholes yet still saving face is far too common. The further one can operate in the gray areas and still be profitable unfortunately has become our future. Have you really ever sat down and read the "Fine Print", attached to all legal binding contracts? They have that "fine print" because of this debate, ethics verses profits. Somewhere some lawyer sat down and wrote all that "Fine Print". The details are in the fine print and unfortunately most do not even read it.

The dilemma is as long as companies are driven by the profits first, you will always find a little more of the ethics in the gray area. The school of thought that should drive business is to do it honestly, enthusiastically, with integrity. This equates directly to good sound business ethics. The best advertisement money can't buy is word of mouth. Once you do business with a company and show your company to be ethical then they will refer others to you.

When you build a solid foundation of sound business ethics, combined with honesty, enthusiastic zeal, and integrity you will have found a wining combination, which can and has been proven to, carry a business through many prosperous years. Keeping in mind the golden rule of an ethical business, "You never get a second chance to make a good first impression."

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