Business and Morals: Do You Take the Money Or Run?
I’ve written about the association between morals and business before. I even had an excellent guest post on the subject, so it’s no secret that my morals and values play an important role in my business decisions. However, I recently discovered these two things aren’t as cut and dried as I first thought.
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What Happens When You Know Too Much
Here’s the scenario: A client comes to you wanting to write a book on a subject you just happen to know a bit about. They give you the outline and main points for each chapter. Unfortunately, they’re wrong. And it isn’t a ‘I know I’m wrong but I just want to make money’. It’s a ‘I’m not wrong. I’m the expert’. Now, if you write this book, your name isn’t on it, but others will still be reading and learning from this book. Also, these mistruths aren’t glaringly obvious to anyone other than those who are familiar with the business, so it would be hard for anyone else to prove otherwise.
Do you write it, take the money, and shut up? Or do you turn away the cash and run with it?
The “Take the Money and Run Camp”
A lot of industry experts I’ve talked to about the subject say it depends on a number of things including whether or not their name is on it, how much money the project is worth, who it’s for, how big of a factual mistake it is, and many other variables.
The argument is that if it’s worth enough money, if the mistake isn’t that huge, and their name isn’t on it, they’d likely do it.
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“No Way In Hell Buddy Boy”
On the other side of the fence are those who say they wouldn’t take the job regardless. They don’t care who it’s for, what it could do to or for their career, or how much money they could make. They know what’s right and what’s wrong, and they refuse to allow something false like that from hitting the virtual shelves. They’d never be able to look at themselves in the mirror if they did.
“It’s Money. Duh”
The third opinion of this is that it’s a business transaction. This is doing a job for money. Nothing more. Nothing less. Their morals and values don’t enter into the picture because their morals and values aren’t for sale. They run a profitable business, and as such, they will do what keeps that business profitable.
Personally, I have to admit I’m torn. I really abhor the idea of writing the same garbage that I’ve argued against, but at the same time, I do have a family to support. From the client’s perspective, they may know I know about the subject, but they don’t know how much I know about. Also, they’re supposed to be the experts on the subject, not you. Why would they trust you?
I’m left in a position where I don’t want to touch the project because I know a portion of it is incorrect. The client won’t just change it because the writer said so either. There’s no real way to prove it, so what do we do?
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4 Tips From Dr Phil All Businesses Should Consider
Whether you like him or hate him, you have to admit Dr. Phil’s a smart cookie. His quirky, down to earth way of giving advice gives everyone a little piece of advice they can understand, and it’s always entertaining.
After watching the show the other day, I realized a large number of the tips and wise words of wisdom he gives are great for business too. In fact, I think we could all learn from the great Dr. Phil.
Dr Phil Business Lesson #1: “So, how’s that workin’ for you?”
When guests insist they’re doing things the right way, and they’re obviously not, Dr. Phil usually comes out with this great line. The guest instantly goes quiet and the blank stare of self-realization comes over his face. Maybe his methods weren’t so great after all.
I think we should all stop and ask ourselves that question as we build and refine our businesses. It can also be a pretty powerful question in our personal lives once in awhile. How many times do we do something just because it’s the way we’ve always done it? It’s always worked in the past, so why change now?
How’s that marketing plan really working? Is your business going in the right direction? Are we working with the people we want work with/for? Personally, I’ve always got a ‘target’ list I’m working on. It’s filled with companies I’d like to provide copywriting for, people I’d like to meet, and those I’d love to collaborate with.
The way I see it, if what we’re doing isn’t producing the results we want, we need to change our strategy and try again. Don’t be afraid to question everything; the real answers might just surprise you.
Dr Phil Business Lesson #2: “You need to find a target rich environment”
This sentence generally comes out on shows where women or men have difficulties getting dates, but what Dr. Phil says makes sense. How can you attract or find what you want, if you’re not looking in the right spot?
So, if I’m launching a product aiming at teenagers, what am I doing advertising on LinkedIn, for example? I need to be making myself known on places like MySpace and Facebook…that’s where they are. Of course, all this will depend on the market and what you’re doing exactly, but the point is that you need to go to where your target audience is and draw them out from the places they’ve already conjugated.
Dr Phil Business Lesson #3: “She’s got your manhood in a Dixie cup’
Ok, I have to admit this was probably as funny and as shocking as I’d seen Dr. Phil get, but even this had a great lesson. In this episode, a mother was controlling her son to the point that his long time girlfriend/fiancé was ready to leave.
This situation made me wonder…how many times to we make decisions based on the wants and needs of others? And while we should always consider the effects our choices have on others, how many times do we end up hurting ourselves in an effort to make someone else happy? I think we do it a lot more than we think. I know I do.
Each time we make a decision, we need to weigh the pros and cons of each option. I’m not saying we should step on someone to get what we want, but I think a lot of us would make far better decisions if we asked ourselves why we’re making a particular choice, and who that choice really benefits.
Dr Phil Business Lesson #4: “It’s like my dad used to say: You wouldn’t worry so much about what people thought about you if you knew how seldom they did…”
This one is so telling isn’t it? How many times do we come up with a great idea only to pass it over because we’re worried about what others will think? All things considered, isn’t that one of our biggest mistakes in business? Isn’t it this simple thing that holds us back and prevents us from achieving our goals? In fact, some of the most successful business people became successful because they just ‘did it’.
I find I often edit content because it might be ‘too edgy’ or it ‘might offend’ someone, particularly when I write for myself. At the same time, it’s been the posts or articles I take a chance on that generate actual conversation and become the most successful. Why? I’d like to think it’s because the real me comes through to the reader much more effectively.
So, simply put, if we took more risks, our businesses would become much more successful. Galileo, Shakespeare, Einstein, Elvis, Richard Branson, Arianna Huffington…they all took a chance and did something new.
I don’t know about you, but these four points sound like some pretty good business advice to me. And, it’s not that we don’t know these things. I think we simply get so caught up in everything we forget. Do you have any of these lessons to share?
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