Today I start my quest to seek a rebirth of the virtuous industry leader. My forefathers were businessmen that valued the persons in their firms. My father’s father owned and operated a patternmaking factory in downtown Philadelphia. [Pattern making is a skilled trade that is related to the trades of tool and die making and moldmaking, but also often incorporates elements of fine woodworking.] I recall my grandmother telling many stories of how her husband truly valued his employees and how he would personally forgo his own financial gain in order to assure the livelihood of his loyal workers.
As we know, business today has become profit focused with a short term perspective. Employees are viewed as resources that can be acquired and disposed. Personal, compassionate relationships are discouraged. Virtue has all but disappeared from modern industrial endeavors.
I begin my search for “business virtue” in Philadelphia. I begin with Benjamin Franklin – a man known for “defining the American ethos as a marriage of the practical and democratic values of thrift, hard work, education, and community spirit.”
I begin with the thirteen (13) virtues defined by Ben Franklin in 1726 at age 20:
- “Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.”
- “Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”
- “Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.”
- “Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.”
- “Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.”
- “Industry. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.”
- “Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.”
- “Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.”
- “Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.”
- “Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.”
- “Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.”
- “Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.”
- “Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.”
The Academic Anchor 
Leave a Reply