week11

I sure liked the reading assignments for this lesson. There is so much out there that pushes business owners to only worry about themselves and leave everyone else to fend for themselves. I completely agree that a business is a little community. It’s like a family and everyone helps out and protects one another. The video “Make it Personal and Make it Work” was especially good. I liked that she brought up places that she has worked and how it was like a community and how they have helped to make things more personal for others.

The book that we have read, A Field Guide for the Hero’s Journey”, was far from what I had expected it to be. I was expecting explanation of ideas. Instead, it was lots of short stories that portrayed the point that the authors were trying to get across. The short stories were nice for breaking up ideas but left me wondering where the authors were going with it. I felt that the other books we have read did a better job explaining this book than this book did for itself.

*Based on what you read in the first two pages (pages 3 and 4), why are virtue and integrity so vital to an economy?

Virtue and integrity are vital because without them no one would trust each other enough to actually do business. The numbers should be presented accurately so that those investing in it will know what they are getting and there will be no surprises.

*According to Charles Handy, what is the “real justification” for the existence of businesses?

Businesses should exist to make a “profit so that the business can do something more or better.”

 *What are two solutions proposed by Handy that you agree with? Why?

I agree that there needs to be more honesty in reporting data. I think that making your reports look better than they actually are only set the company up for failure. Investors will be expecting numbers to raise but when they raise to where they were supposed to be to begin with, it causes distrust and a lose of business.

I also agree that companies should have a cause that they contribute to. I think that it helps to motivate workers to do their best and it also helps to keep everything in perspective. Contributing to a cause can help us feel good about ourselves and notice the blessings that we have around us.