Here is an excellent and challenging excerpt from the book Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin.
Unfortunately, even business leaders themselves sometimes fail to see how people’s respect for business can be subtly eroded by phrases like “giving back.” Instead of emphasizing how much good it does for so many people during the daily conduct of its business, Starbucks Coffee Company recently published a 12-panel pamphlet entitled Giving Back: A Guide to Starbucks Community. I don’t mean to point a finger at a good, Northwest company that I admire. Countless corporations adopt the same public posture that disparages for-profit activities. Let me tell you what Starbucks wants you to know about how they “give back to the community.”
This is all very meritorious, but I would have preferred the pamphlet to have been called Doing Good rather than Giving Back. I would have welcomed a Starbucks pamphlet that also told of the tens of thousands of people who have fine jobs with many benefits because of Starbucks’ success. I would have enjoyed reading about how retired Americans who own Starbucks stock enjoy a better old age because of the company’s fine financial performance. How about mentioning that many Starbucks outlets have become little community gathering places?
Lapin goes on to challenge the (mis)conception we have in our society that “for profit” activities are inherently greedy. As if selling tasty cups of coffee to millions of people every day is somehow selfish because they are trying to make money in the process. Or as if the company has to redeem itself by performing additional charities on top of their everyday operations.
I highly recommend Lapin’s book. It gave me a fresh perspective on the “dignity and morality of business.”
Unfortunately, even business leaders themselves sometimes fail to see how people’s respect for business can be subtly eroded by phrases like “giving back.” Instead of emphasizing how much good it does for so many people during the daily conduct of its business, Starbucks Coffee Company recently published a 12-panel pamphlet entitled Giving Back: A Guide to Starbucks Community. I don’t mean to point a finger at a good, Northwest company that I admire. Countless corporations adopt the same public posture that disparages for-profit activities. Let me tell you what Starbucks wants you to know about how they “give back to the community.”
- Its employees put in many hours of volunteer time for local nonprofit groups, such as AIDS walks and serving meals for the homeless.
- Each Starbucks store chooses a charity to receive its leftover pastries.
- Starbucks corporate contributions focus on literacy, AIDS outreach, environmental awareness, and the arts.
- Starbucks has Green Teams who continuously review ways to recycle.
- In some coffee-origin countries, Starbucks pays a premium above purchase price of coffee to fund local education and health projects.
This is all very meritorious, but I would have preferred the pamphlet to have been called Doing Good rather than Giving Back. I would have welcomed a Starbucks pamphlet that also told of the tens of thousands of people who have fine jobs with many benefits because of Starbucks’ success. I would have enjoyed reading about how retired Americans who own Starbucks stock enjoy a better old age because of the company’s fine financial performance. How about mentioning that many Starbucks outlets have become little community gathering places?
Lapin goes on to challenge the (mis)conception we have in our society that “for profit” activities are inherently greedy. As if selling tasty cups of coffee to millions of people every day is somehow selfish because they are trying to make money in the process. Or as if the company has to redeem itself by performing additional charities on top of their everyday operations.
I highly recommend Lapin’s book. It gave me a fresh perspective on the “dignity and morality of business.”