Business of service with compassion

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">It is great to have good intentions when trying to reach out to others — it is quite another thing to be able to commit a lifetime of effort and money to building long lasting and useful institutions that maintain this interest. The question that arises is: How can big or small businesses reconcile their philanthropic concerns with the strain of running a viable business? <br />Consider everyday examples in the marketplace like buying fruits and vegetables.One begins to wonder why some vendors are more ‘reasonable’ than others — why are similar or identical products priced differently? What can be considered ‘reasonable’ in business transactions when bottom lines have to be fixed, goals met, and profits made? Despite the work being done on business ethics, corporate governance and social responsibility, no conclusions have yet been reached on what is the right way of setting the price line or fixing profits. <br />Then there is the tussle between those who advocate regulated and controlled markets and those who argue for self-management, perfect competition and leaving market mechanisms to determine what is reasonable in the marketplace. On a more human and spiritual plane, though, you would think that a reasonable person is someone who is considerate and who apportions the benefits equally. There is a sense of inclusion and trust in the entire process when you deal with someone who is considerate. In a more direct sense, as stated in the <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Bhagavad Gita</span>, you are encouraged to work towards excellence and focus on the essentials of work rather than be absorbed with the fruits of action. <br />Ultimately, though, it is a matter of personal character. There are essentially two kinds of people: for those whom concern, care and compassion for people is the priority and the others who think only in terms of profit and self-interest. The ‘I-me-my-mines’ think of other people only when there is some mileage to be gained or when it makes good business sense. Talk about business-focus can at times be a mask for plain self-centredness and lack of capacity to become all-inclusive. It follows therefore that for any business to be socially responsible, it has to cultivate a business practice which cares for people at large and not just for a specific set of people, a focus group or stakeholders. As JN Tata said, "Community is not just another stakeholder in our businesses, but the very purpose of existence of our enterprises�. <br />Socially responsible people know deep down that business can never be sustained without some kind of overall inclusion, because it is the people who have to ultimately endorse the actions of businesses. Care and concern are behavioural manifestations of that intent to include the diverse interests of all groups. It is important to take into consideration other points of view and to make the effort to empathise with people who are facing difficulties. Only a business with a wide perspective will be able to understand the aspirations and sufferings of people from all strata of society. <br />Business therefore should not be done with solely a profit motive, with personal gain as its exclusive goal. A considerate and ethical approach can do wonders for a business house. That’s how trust is built up. And that’s how lasting corporate images are created. <br />Businessmen who think they can get by without making the effort to build trust and confidence and who don’t care much about social responsibility, will not be successful. Good businesses have at their core, the real interests of the people. This approach has been advocated by hallowed Vedic declarations such as: <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Sahana vavatu...sahanao bhunaktu...sahaveeryam karavavahai</span>, and also <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Sarve janah sukhino bhavantu</span>. </div> </div>