3 Tips for the Greedy Capitalist$

I am replying to Sen's previous article on Greed With Compassion... - which was a reply to some of Campbell's opinions.

First off, I would like to say that I too support capitalism. It motivates many of us, and as Sen stated, gives everybody an opportunity to fulfill their aspirations. And yes, all it takes is a bit of talent, dedication, and luck.

What I don't appreciate, however, is the selfish attitude that I see in some (but not all) of those who have the capitalist mentality. Throughout my entire life, I've been misfortunate enough to have met quite a few people who are simply CHEAP and unethical... and ironically most of them come from middle class families (considered "filthy rich" by many other countries' standards) who have no financial worries whatsoever. Even if they grew up as starving children in third world countries, they are obviously not struggling for survival anymore. However, they still feel the need to fight for every single penny they can get, despite the costs to their friendships and working relationships.

Most of them believe that “greed” always translates into success, but if so, why do so many multinational corporations donate millions of dollars to charities? Why do so many businesses use the "help save the world" statement as a recruitment strategy? Money is important but it’s only one piece of the puzzle, and one of the greatest pleasures of having it is being able to share it. Remember: living in a competitive society doesn't mean we have to compete against EVERYONE. We all need teamates.

Just imagine taking your friends out for a night and paying for all their drinks... By having the power to decide what and how much they drink, not only will you have a hell of a good time but you also develop a good social reputation amongst your friends ("your team"). To any capitalist, reputation should be very important because, let's face it, none of us are perfect and there will be times when we need the help of others.

So here are a few things that all of us (including myself) can work on…

1. Tip your barber
Reward your people for their good work, because afterall they might be capitalists too! For example, your hair plays a big role in your appearance, so it is important to keep a good relation with the person who looks after it - your barber. It also applies to waiters, bartenders, or anyone else who do services for you. Remember, you get what you pay for.

2. Share the wealth
Your friends are like your businesses. You have to invest in them and look after them, and in return they should do the same for you. As I said, you're not competing against everybody. So the next time you get a new job or do well on an exam, celebrate by taking your friends out for drinks or a nice dinner.

3. Stay within your ethics
Just because something is legal doesn't mean it's ethical. If you're doing business with a friend, please don't rip them off. If you start a business, keep control of the things that you know aren't good for the public. (eg. pollution)

Anyways, those were my 2 cents on our little "capitalism" debate. Feel free to post any comments. If you have the money, please share it. A few drinks for your friends or a few dollars for the homeless will not make you into a starving third world citizen! I look forward to meeting up in September and I promise to buy everyone some drinks!