Comments

So you are saying what matters in life is a pleasent obituary.

Posted by zed at June 24, 2008 4:09 PM

Truth is, that's complete b.s. Sounds nice, but that's not how people are rewarded in the here and now. You know it, Russett knew it, and that, my friend, is the biggest problem we face as a society.

You can certainly be good and do good and live a life of kindness and sacrifice; in fact, I encourage it. But please don't expect your virtue to pay your $15,000 health insurance bill. Your reward lies within yourself, and perhaps in the hereafter.

Posted by Tom Asacker at June 24, 2008 4:56 PM

Tom Asacker...Why shouldn't virtue pay your health insurance bill? You write as if business and virtue are mutually exclusive when, in fact, they do not have to be.

Posted by Judith Ellis at June 24, 2008 5:52 PM

I agree with the tenent of the post from the standpoint that we all know what is most valuable, even when our actions are the exact polar opposite. When I think of the world, I think of systems that include avarice, control, covetousness, meaningless power etc. When I think of love and virtue I think of beauty and excellence that we ourselves can insist upon; it's a matter of responsibility, individually and corporately.

We can change the systems of the world. We the people matter. Think about this: What makes business happen after innovation? People. If people stopped buying what would then happen to businesses? They would fail. We really can change the world's systems for the better...we ourselves.

Various organizations such as PETA have infused a certain ethical consciousness on industry and the market. PETA, for example, has without doubt changed the consciousness of major clothing designers that bears recognition. Whether you agree with their tactics or not or whether you wear fear or not. Personally, I'm for the ethical treatment of animals, but I do not have a problem with fur or leather. I own a lot of the latter and none of the former, though I am not opposed to either.

When love reigns (which isn't all the time mushy and sweet, though never cruel or avaricious) certain things will take care of themselves. Again, individual and corporate responsility are essential in changing various systems of the world.

Posted by Judith Ellis at June 24, 2008 6:16 PM

If you ever get the chance to give a eulogy for some you love and/or respect please do it... You will discover for yourself that the world is not a liar - the liar is you... You can blame your God,family,friends, customers,business partners, etc. for the circumstances that enable you to become and to continue to be a liar until you give a eulogy... When you speak about the recently departed you find your truth, your inner well being, your integrity or you simply continue to be a liar. At the lectern as you give a eulogy for a loved one or for a well respect other you will find the absolute truth...

Posted by Richard Lipscombe at June 24, 2008 8:07 PM

Terrifically powerful quote - thanks for pointing it out to me as it is now definitely going to become one of my inspirational motivators. I've been thinking about this very topic lately, doing good and doing well.

From my stand point, it seems there are 2 kinds of folks out there. Those that understand if you truly follow your convictions and believe in what you want to accomplish then you can do it on your own terms. The second type are the folks that only see the hurdles and think that they need to sacrifice their beliefs and feelings to succeed.

It truly sucks because you know that the 2nd type will eventually catch on to the rest of us, but it probably won't be until it is almost too late.

In all, its not about obituaries, its about a sense of completion. We all want to feel that this life makes us complete. It answers the question we all have which is, "what is my purpose". There is no way around that - all of us have thought it and we've all dealt with it in different ways.

Posted by Daniel Schutzsmith at June 25, 2008 12:30 AM

Hi Judith. I was not making a statement against virtue and business success. In fact, I preach, and teach, the opposite. My friend David Wolfe has coauthored a compelling book on the subject if you're interested: Firms of Endearment.

I was commenting on what Ms. Noonan wrote: "In a way, the world is a great liar. It shows you it worships and admires money, but at the end of the day it doesn't. It says it adores fame and celebrity, but it doesn't, not really . . ."

The "end of the day" doesn't matter, in my book. What matters is the here and now. What we find value in, is what we act on right now, today, in the present.

To Richard's point, I have given eulogies for people I've loved and respected. And I can remember feeling guilty for not having taken more time to be present with those people, as well as not telling them, more often and with deep feeling, how much I loved them and what a profound difference they had made in my life.

You see, the world isn't a great liar. The world is a great fool.

Posted by Tom Asacker at June 25, 2008 3:19 PM

Peggy Noonan wrote speaches for Ronald Reagan
and she works for the wall street journal.
And she is writing about tim russert. People know who he is only because he achieved fame and fortune.
Is this in any way ironic?
There must be some English majors out
there who can help with this.

Posted by zed at June 25, 2008 5:06 PM

"You can certainly be good and do good and live a life of kindness and sacrifice; in fact, I encourage it. But please don't expect your virtue to pay your $15,000 health insurance bill. Your reward lies within yourself, and perhaps in the hereafter."

Hi Tom Asacker, Please elaborate a bit more on this quote. The last sentence is clear to me; it's the first two that's got me a bit confused after reading your second comment. (I'll check out your body of work later.) Please indulge me. Perhaps I'm a little slow catching things tonight.

Posted by Judith Ellis at June 25, 2008 10:19 PM

Can someone please define "the world?" Is it we, the people? Or, as I've suggested the systems we set up which may be progessively good or bad which at any time needs adjusting? It's sort of like separating actions from being.

We may not get it right all the time but that may not indicate a foul or corrupt base. There may be systems that we think we need to follow merely because they have been set up whether it is detrimental to us and society in the long run or not.

How many of us blindly follow systems because that is simply the way things are done or because it is perceived to be the best way of succeeding, even when it may not be? I have been such a one.

Posted by Judith Ellis at June 26, 2008 5:26 AM

Judith, do you believe that humbleness, kindness, mercy, honesty, sacrifice, and compassion correlate to financial success? Or, is it more likely to be achieved through focus, hard work, fame and celebrity.

There are close to 50 million Americans with no health insurance. I sincerely doubt that their financial problems will be solved by being kinder and more virtuous. But maybe I'm wrong.

Posted by Tom Asacker at June 26, 2008 11:32 AM

Tom Asacker...my biggest dilemma with your initial comment was that it appeared to be mutually exclusive. In my reading, virtue could not coalesce with business. Your follow up also points to this dichotomy:

"Judith, do you believe that humbleness, kindness, mercy, honesty, sacrifice, and compassion correlate to financial success? Or, is it more likely to be achieved through focus, hard work, fame and celebrity."

While I understand your point, there remains an either/or factor that I disagree with. All of the virtues you mention need not be separate from business, nor do they need to separate from those working or those who are unable to work that do not have healthcare. Regarding those without healthcare, virtue may, in fact, help many. While I do not believe that anyone pulls themselves up by their own bootstraps (we always have the help of others tacitly or not, through support or adversity), ethics and virtue instill qualities that finanicial success may not necessarily all things being equal, i.e., that one has worked diligently.

The correlation about which you spoke to financial success depends on a number of things for various people. There are many paths. But the path that seems most important to me is the one that is gotten through "humbleness, kindness, mercy, honesty, sacrifice and compassion." Needless to say, financial success can be acheived without these things, but in the long run its impact is diminished "at the end of the day." We are daily examples one to the other. In reflections, at the end of the day, I find that I often succeed in being a good example and sometimes I fail miserably.

Your initial comment and follow up questions brought to my mind, at least, an unnecessary dichotomy, an either/or scenario. This is what I tried to address in you initially. It need not be an either/or. Virtue can, in fact, assist in finacial success and in the assurance that all citizens have healtcare. But what it does best is assist in the betterment of mankind, which is priceless, eternal.

Regarding the 50 million Americans without health insurance, there are many reasons which are both personal and societal. First of all, there was a time when we were taught to be our brother's keeper. Are we still taught that today? There was a time when we were taught how to be responsible and productive family members and citizens? Are we taught that today with the same singleminded cultural consciousness? There was a time when we were taught to save and be good stewards? Are children taught that today? There was a time when we didn't expect so much?

The above is not so much an homage to things past but a rememberance of things past in order to see where we now stand and where we are heading.

Posted by Judith Ellis at June 27, 2008 7:52 AM

Judith, my original comment was addressing the sentiment expressed by Ms. Noonan. Nothing more. There is no implied dichotomy, since I was not referring to the "individual." I was referring to the "world." And as you have put it, regarding the "world:"

"First of all, there was a time when we were taught to be our brother's keeper. Are we still taught that today? There was a time when we were taught how to be responsible and productive family members and citizens? Are we taught that today with the same singleminded cultural consciousness? There was a time when we were taught to save and be good stewards? Are children taught that today? There was a time when we didn't expect so much?"

I would say that we're not taught those things today, because the "world" doesn't value those things today. Look, Ms. Noonan implies that we, collectively, don't really worship and admire money, or adore fame and celebrity. And once again I say, b.s. I'm sure many more people know who Paris Hilton is, than who Tim Russett was.

Posted by Tom Asacker at June 27, 2008 10:34 AM

Thanks, Tom Asacker. Perhaps it has to do with my reading in reference to the individual and the collective. I agree with Ms. Noonan in that at the end of the day it is not the money, fame, and celebrity that is most admired, collectively or as I see, individually. Virtues are most admired at the end of the day, daily or finally. The likes of Paris Hilton are flashes in the pan; those with virtues are with us spiritually for an eternity. Please check out my blog. I wrote a piece there on Russert.

Posted by Judith Ellis at June 27, 2008 11:39 AM

You got it, Judith! Stay passionate!

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Posted by Tom Asacker at June 27, 2008 3:03 PM

You too, Tom Asacker! Keep the faith!

Posted by Judith Ellis at June 27, 2008 3:16 PM

I don't care what Judith Noonan said, I am impressed that someone other than me thought that the Tim R. mourning was more than was needed. Imagine the nerve of Pat Buchanon saying that he didn't think the American public would be able to pick a President without Tim Russett! What makes this whole thing rather humorous, if you can find a chuckle in death, is that my 49 year old brother died unexpectedly of SCA in January of this year. His job: theater technical director-the guy who runs the lights, sounds, timeclock, makeup etc etc who makes those news people look good. Both good people. One gets lots of press but tell me, really, which is the greater loss??

Posted by Ed at July 17, 2008 2:32 PM

What a tremendously poignant comment. The list of what the world admires are traits we admire in people - and reminds me it is better to focus on others instead of myself, or the 'busyness' of life, or chasing a dollar. For some time I have feared that in the final moments of my life, I will look back and realize that I missed it - in thinking other things/projects/goals were more important than people - but it will be too late. I see the lesson here (or 'take away') for a business is that it is relationships that matter - from the design of it's business model, to it's marketing and customer service - to align what is important/matters in our business with what is important in our life as an individual.

Posted by Craig Olson at August 18, 2008 9:38 AM