Here is a great idea for you – "Run your business like a Somali pirate." Believe it or not, that is the headline today from an NPR story. I know that there is something to learn from all circumstances but I think this story – which presents the Somali pirates as savvy business men, and those they highjack as customers – goes way too far, even for NPR.
The author or the story actually argues that the Somali pirates run on a sound business model relying on their keen instincts and strong negotiating abilities. He even says that their business model rewards employees who take risks and values "customer" service. Hello! – Are we talking about the same thing here? These guys operate from a terroristic approach. They willingly use violence and force to illegally take over a free enterprise. Then they hold the ship, threatening the destruction of its cargo and the death of the people on it, until a ransom is paid. Where is the customer service in that?
I am sorry, but this just rattles my doo in a way that is difficult for me to describe. Can we take this author seriously? What if he would have wrote about Hitler's business model extolling its virtues and essentially recommending that our leading businesses implement it. The article says that the pirates are smart enough to hire an English speaking lawyer to act as their business negotiator when they are negotiating the ransom. I think they were smart enough to hire a PR firm too, and a writer to write such an incredibly tasteless and deceptive article. How anybody can attempt to glorify this type of behavior is beyond me. Are we to the point where we are dumb enough to buy into this?
What Happened?
How did we get to this point? Over the past 50 years we have witnessed an increase in the acceptance of corrupt and unethical business practices. It was about that time that business schools started requiring their students to read Machiavelli's The Prince and Sun Tzu's The Art of War. These books both teach about using power to subject and rule over others. The study of these books, and others like them, led many to push the envelope of ethics until we ended up with so many scandals that I can hardly keep track of them any more. If I were to list them all here, it would take you a day to read them. Remember Enron – Arthur Anderson, Fannie Mae, Freddy Mac, CitiBank, GM, Countrywide, AIG etc. The list goes on and on.
What happened to the honest business model of hard work, honest strategies and marketing plans, fair treatment of employees and adding something of value to our society and our customers? Is that really a business model that no longer works? Must we really follow the business plans of terrorists and pirates to be successful?
The Stand
I am afraid there is a lot of piracy going on around us. It is happening in ways that are sometimes difficult for you and me to even notice. It is happening so often that most people see a headline like this one and think – "yeah – that sounds cool!" Some of us are afraid to say anything about these atrocities because we don't want to hurt anybodies feelings. If we don't begin to stand for truth soon, we will be in for a lot more piracy.
I love Stephen King's novel The Stand. It tells the story of the end of the world and portrays in such a vivid way the conflict of good and something else (I just wanted to be politically correct here and not call the other side evil. I am sure they have some redeeming qualities that we could all model). Which side do you think you find yourself on? Are you thinking that it is time to run your business like a Somali pirate? or Do you think it is time to stand up and say "this a pile of manure and we can't take this anymore"?
Just so there is no confusion. I am not talking about people or policies – I am talking about principles. We seem to have a shortage of them right now and I don't want to live in a world where we look to pirates to lead the way. We have got to stand up for the basic principles that we all know are right. It is greed and the hunger for power that has got us where we are – we need a return to virtue – we need to stand for something. I will not stand for the glorification of the rape and pillage of our values. Will you please join me?
See you on the road!
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