I don’t usually care much about “shopping” when I’m on vacation. That’s just not how I relax. But I do like my comfy clothes … so when in Kinsale, Ireland last month I bought a really beautiful blue Aran Sweater.
We made good fun of the fact that it came with a numbered and signed “Certificate of Authenticity.”
I saved it of course, because on its back is a key with the meaning of a selection of Aran stitches. I only recently looked closely at the certificate… This little detail made me laugh:
Nonetheless, it is still my “new favorite sweater.” Beautiful stitching, cotton lining and fleece collar – the wool sweater perfected.
A co-worker sent me a copy of this email today, which I sent nine years ago to our corporate staff … We had recently concluded a significant “visioning” process, which had affirmed the importance of human values within our company in addition to the financial capital objectives. I then wrote a series of emails to all-staff unpacking the elements of the “vision” that we adopted. This was one of them…
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2000 10:33 AM
Subject: Thoughts and Ideas
Greetings.
In recent weeks, I have reviewed with you the elements of Fiore’s vision statement, and discussed some of the development and investment activities of the company. In the next few memos, I plan to focus on each of the functional divisions in the company. But first I thought I would share with you some food for thought from an address given last fall as part of the executive-in-residence program at the University of Notre Dame by Elmer W. Johnson, who is a former Exec VP and Director of GM. The purpose of his talk was to take moral stock of our economic system. After making a powerful case for capitalism, he went on to discuss several contemporary moral concerns, one of which was the question of “character and the market mentality”:
“In The Battle for Human Nature (1986), Barry Schwartz, a psychology professor at Swarthmore College, argues that the disciplines of economics, evolutionary biology, and behavioral theory have converged on a frightening conception of human beings as self-interested, rational, economic individuals living in a world of social Darwinism very much to their liking, a conception that has come to be so widely accepted that it threatens to undermine the traditional conception of humans as moral beings who are obligated to choose the right, regardless of self-interest. As the modern conception becomes ever more pervasive, Schwartz says, our social lives and democracy itself are tainted and transformed by the market mentality: everything becomes a commodity. Thus, a false conception of humans becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Yet as Schwartz says, the commercialization of noneconomic goods is ultimately self-destructive. Society cannot hold together, and even the market cannot exist, without conventions of social responsibility and mutual trust.”
So his question is: How do we prevent (both individually and as a society) the all-pervasive “culture of the market” from eroding our institutional and personal lives and frustrating our higher purposes?
I believe, that if we really “buy-in” to our corporate vision and live out these values, it mitigates the worst aspects of this market mentality. And just as some of the early defects of capitalism – such as cartels, investor fraud and exploitation of workers – were remediated by reforms over the past century, we can help to bring about a corrective to these continuing moral concerns by the way in which we carry out our business.
What do you think?
Regards,
Bill
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Fiore Companies
William J. Kunkler, Executive Vice President
wkunkler@fioreco.com
This weekend we helped ease our family dog – Abby – into the afterlife. It was very difficult and sad. But it was the right thing to do, at the right time, and we did it the right way. The vet came to our house, and Abby was surrounded and strongly loved up by Aszani, Mo, Dan and me as she lay in one of her favorite spots from where she passed over.
For a number of perfectly legitimate reasons, I was a reluctant dog owner… but Maureen and Dan wore me down and I agreed that we could get one a little over 11 years ago. Aszani did all the research and we found a wonderful breeder of Golden Retrievers. We paid for an upcoming “pick of the litter” – and we picked the friendliest puppy (of the friendliest breed). That’s how Abby entered our family, and everyone who met her would join me in affirming her lovely and friendly spirit.
My family and friends all know how much I came to love this dog… She was a great companion to me, and I guess its true – she has turned me into a “dog person.”
Here are some of the things I learned from her:
- Give every stranger you meet an open friendly greeting. Some people won’t connect with you, but many will and you will receive much affection and friendship in return.
- Walk away from trouble. Some creatures are just nasty, so just avoid them.
- Don’t be afraid to approach those that you’ve angered. Simply express your love, and wait to be forgiven.
- Pursue your pleasures – and your dreams. Even if you never can catch that rabbit.
Peace, sweet dog.
