Pall: Altruism + Truthfulness vs. Selfishness + Greed

[GoldenBear]

Say you had two people starting a business hoping to become big and successful, and the first was a very altruistic and truthful person, while the other was of a selfish and greedy nature.

In a couple years time, who's business would become more prosperous in terms of finances and futuristic possibilities?

Assume other traits are relatively equal, such as their level of ambition, education, speaking abilities, etc..

 

[HansHurt]

Well altruism and truthfulness can be considered selfish . What I mean by this is the gratification of acting this way is a reward in of itself, thus seeking this reward could be considered selfish.

Also, the Greedy man can appear to be altruistic, and honest so it all depends on how they project their image.

 

[Pretender]

really depends on the business. if its a small town general store type of thing, the truthfulness and honesty may work. In the real world, the greedy one would probably win.

 

[GoldenBear]

<< really depends on the business. if its a small town general store type of thing, the truthfulness and honesty may work. In the real world, the greedy one would probably win. >>

Yeah, I agree with that assessment. In a small setting it will be the truthfulness that gains him business, but when you're on the level of Ellison/Gates, deceitfulness is almost a key.

 

[thereds]

Pall?

 

[gittyup]

Maybe the two people could become partners? COuld be a good match for success.

 

[GoldenBear]

<< Pall? >>

Yes.

 

[Fuzzmuncher]

:disgust:



<< yes >>



yes, you are an idiot

 

[Moonbeam]

A truthful and altruistic person would have better things to do with her time.

 

[sandorski]

Both may succeed or fail equally well. It is a myth that all successful business persons are greedy or somehow corrupt. You just hear more about the corrupt is all.

It's like the old west, we know all about the criminals and the lawmen charged with bringing the criminals down, but the true success story is completely paseed by. The tens/hundreds of thousands who traveled in wagons/trains and never wore a gun were the ones who built the country for the future generations. Likewise, there are thousands of businesses/business people who are very successful and are not corrupt or corrupting.

Too many people have missed the point of the movie &quot;Wall Street&quot;. Somehow, people misinterpreted that movie's line, &quot;Greed is good&quot;, as a mantra to make wealth or even to defend ones economic philosophy. The &quot;Greed is good&quot; fella is merely a slick corrupt conman who uses the &quot;Greed is good&quot; line as a way to shock then recruit followers. He was not meant to be emulated, but as an example of evil to be avoided.