Lessons from Enron: Are ethics part of your business plan?
Do you recycle all of your bottles and cans? You know you should. Do you cheat on your taxes–inflate those entertainment expenses just a tad? You know you shouldn’t. Do you know someone who you think may be breaking some law, but you’re not sure, and you really don’t want to find out? These are little questions that add up to a big question: How ethical are you? We talk about the importance of integrity all the time(and that’s a good thing), but how do we really define it? More important: Do we walk the walk as well as we talk the talk.
I am not about to cast a stone here. I’m going to recommend you to see a movie. It’s the documentary, “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”. It’s out on DVD and I noticed it’s on my cable pay-per-view too. I’m telling you, it is really mind boggling. It has a great deal to say about ethics, and about the difference between what’s wrong and what’s illegal. It makes you contemplate what any one person could do if they suspect wrongdoing, but actually finding out it’s true or doing anything about it could destroy them personally and professionally.
Most of us know the difference between right and wrong when two choices are before us, but this documentary shows how much more complicated the situation at Enron was before it all fell apart. I know it made me think for weeks about what the people who worked there didn’t see (or didn’t know), about the deception that was going on. Ken Lay claims he had no idea, and who knows, he may be telling the truth. Who wants to think the company they run is a house of cards? How much do we kid ourselves day to day?
I’d love to hear from any of you who have already seen it, and if not, make time for it and let me know what you think.
By the way, search for “ethics” using Yahoo, and you will find it can be purchased for $8.69 at overstock.com…. I found that humorous enough to share (I’m guessing it’s the title of a book). You can look it up, you can read about it, you can take a seminar on it. In our culture, people would like to purchase it. But can you live it? Is it part of your life plan? Is there mention of it in your business plan? Is it covered in the employee handbook? Watch this documentary, and I bet you’ll agree maybe it should be.
May 9th, 2006 at 5:45 pm
Hi Joan,
As with an earlier post on integrity, ethics must be part of one’s business plan…remember when you were a kid and you’d hear on cartoons: [i]Crime does not pay…[/i]
I believe in that simple theory, whether it be a story as disappointin as Enron, or how you go about reporting your taxes.
Sooner or later you’ll be found out and that will be the end of your business.
May 12th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
I just started my business in Aug 2005, and I have run into a numerous amount of people who have a disability, want to work underneath the table, and collect disability checks from the govt. Of course, by law they are not allowed to work and I would never risk my small business by hiring them.
However, it is a sign of the times. People find it difficult (impossible many claim) to find a job due to legitimate disability. However, their disability check is small.
I think one of three possible things are happening. First, the disabled persons are not wisely spending their govt check and are living above their means. Second, the disability checks are so small, they find it difficult to live. Third, they knowingly break the law and are willing to work despite their circumstances.
Perhaps the laws are too rigid, and require some flexibility such as "if you work, your disability gets reduced"…this way, if their disability completely prevents them from doing any type of work, the full sum of their disability check can kick in.
David Coronel / Owner / Native American Puppet Theater