Jon Huntsman articulates in a short, easy reading book what it means to conduct business with integrity. One of my favorite quotes is:
“One might even be tempted to believe that the near-sacred American Dream is unobtainable without resorting to moral mischief and malfeasance. Nonsense. Cutting ethical corners is the antithesis of the American Dream.”
He articulates that what’s needed in today’s business environment is a booster shot of commonly held moral principles from the playgrounds of youth: be fair, don’t cheat, play nicely, and tell the truth.
Much of Jon’s message is in line with our company principles: surround yourself with people who have the courage to say no; treat others with respect; leadership requires risk and responsibility; and compete fiercely, but no cutting in line.
There is one chapter that I didn't fully agree with. It is titled “The Obligation to Give Back.” I don’t like the term “give back,” as it implies that a successful business must have conned its customers and communities in order to make a profit.
Philanthropy is great and Jon Huntsman is a very generous man. In his situation (private, family-owned company), donating company profits to charities and other philanthropic endeavors is fine. I’d be cautious about making the statement that all businesses have the obligation to do this. A publicly-traded company (which is what Huntsman Chemical is now) is obligated to be profitable for its shareholders.
Overall, worth a read. It contains some great quotes!
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