Monday, August 22, 2005

I've been scoffing at "Corporate Social Responsibility!"

One thing we have to remember about "corporate social responsibility" -- it's no replacement for our personal responsibility.

I'm the kind of person who will give something to, or do something for the poor, but who hopes that I will not have to actually deal directly with those people. It's almost like what they have is catching -- and having "caught" whatever it is a couple of times during my life, I'm not interested in catching it again. So lemme give the pocket change or the used clothing or the canned goods, and lemme walk away. Don't let me become caught up in the plight of the poor, or those down on their luck.

And you know what? Others around me are just like me, to varying degrees. When somebody is out of work, we send 'em ads and ask 'em if they've sent resumes here or there -- we do this once or twice -- and then we're out of stuff to say. When somebody is bereaved, we tell 'em we're sorry, maybe even make a covered dish for the wake, offer to "help any way we can," and then leave 'em in bereft silence. It's just our way: we have big hearts but those hearts are seldom touched.

I loved The Corporation, but it had this negative effect: in getting me pissed off at what companies do to show they don't really care about human needs, the video got me to take my attention off myself, and the fact that I don't really care either. At least, not enough to have a changed heart.

Here's why I'm saying all this: entrepreneurs need to understand that changing the world isn't gonna happen when we shine bright lights on dark enterprises, if we won't allow those lights to shine on our own untouched hearts as well.

What does an entrepreneur do to show social responsibility? Loaded question. And there are lots of great organizations, like this one out there who can tell you more than I can. But here are general principles:
  • Make sure your employees sleep well at night, knowing what they're contributing to.
  • Make sure what you make now isn't going to leave behind a world of trouble later.
  • Don't just throw money; take ownership of a problem. Get involved in the solution.
  • Don't try to heal the whole world; one problem is good for a start.
  • The law says you have to put your shareholders first; make them part of your solution.
Oh, yeah: I really am just thinking out loud here. I gotta get myself straightened out before I can really think about you.

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posted by Ron @ 10:06 PM

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