Can Ethics be Bought?

Where do we get ethics? Can you buy them off a shelf? Can you be taught ethics? Do we get them from our genetic makeup or from watching our parents? All great questions.

Let me tell you a story of my early days in Purchasing. I was asked to sell off a large pile of scrap metal at our municipal Works Yard. I asked all the dealers to meet me on site to view the scrap and then to later provide me with a written quote. All arrived on this misty yet warm summer morning in the early 1980's. All but one drove near to the pile and began their inspections. One dealer however drove his dirty old pick up truck over to where I was standing. He got out of his truck beer belly flapping with gravity and his arm stretched out to greet me with a hand shake. I reached out my hand to receive him and stopped when I saw a $50 bill folded up in his creased hand. I asked him "what is that?" He proceeded to tell me it was a token of thanks because we were going to do business. I said, "keep your money, inspect the pile of scrap and present your price. If you are the highest bidder, we will do business". He did as advised. When I told this story to my Senior Buyer back at our office in City Hall he said "good for you. If you accepted the $50 you would have told the world you could be bought for $50." I was stunned by this. It suggests that we all have a price. His by the way is $1 million. I said I can't be bought. He said, sure you can. Someone just needs to find your price.

So what is Ethics? Is it black and white? Is their a grey area? Let me know your thoughts? By the way, I can't be bought for any price.

Holding The Cash Is A Great Motivator

If you ask a poor man to set his goals high and dream big he will generally picture food on the table or a roof over his head. Another man might dream of owning a 42' sailing boat. We each have different vantage points and therefore see the world differently. And as a result, we dream differently. If we believe this to be true, then how can I as a leader of my staff ask them to dream big by providing a chance to win a trip or a leased luxury sedan for year, etc. These are what I believe to be great goals from my vantage point. However, from my employees perspective, paying down the mortgage or stocking the fridge for a few weeks might be more exciting. So, what should we do to motivate staff?

Let them hold the cash. Holding The Cash Is A Great Motivator. Take it one step further and get them to think about how they would spend the cash. Send them on a mission to find it, touch it, smell it, take a picture or get a picture of it for their office. The dream now becomes more real. It is their dream. Take a picture of them holding the cash and provide them the picture for their office. This will become a great reminder to go out and get their dream. The system or step by step process of how to make it happen is important but, without the desire and emotion, their dream will never be achieved.

You Can't Make An Entrepreneur

'You Can't Make An Entrepreneur But, You Can Break One!' I was speaking to a friend of mine who has been involved with franchise sales for many years. Arnaldo Vieira has been a Master Franchisee and a Broker in North America and we were discussing what it takes to be a successful franchisee. What you first need to understand is that a true entrepreneur generally works outside the box, does not like to be controlled and would rather lead. They are also more of the risk taker. Most start up business owners would fall within the definition of a true entrepreneur.

A typical franchise business, a mortar and brick franchise, has a very tight system with many rules to ensure that a positive brand image grows and is not damaged. Imagine the true entrepreneur who is told he will be penalized for not opening on time or closing too soon or not having the toilets cleaned, the floors washed to the standard expected and the list goes on. Now, these are all important to ensure all the franchisees within the system benefit from this high standard. However, only a certain type of franchise owner works well in this environment.

This personality needs to be instructed and told what to do. Sounds much like an employee, doesn't it? The true entrepreneur in this environment will be broken. The same person who will succeed and, in fact, flourish with a system that allows them freedom will as Arnaldo stated; "...be broke". They will lose their initial excitement and passion and in some cases fail. A true entrepreneur is born, not made. Hence, what Arnaldo stated is correct; "You can't make an entrepreneur, but in the wrong franchise system, they can be broke".

As I have expressed in a previous post (Buying A Franchise...) follow my tips and make sure you know who you are when buying a franchise. Ask yourself how much control do I need and want and, how much freedom do I need and want?

A Franchise business is a great way to get into a business for yourself in an industry you have no experience in where you will be trained, supported and will not have to survive a learning curve most start ups go through to be successful in the long term. Just make sure you select the one that fits you!