In the current crisis is the need for more humanity in business again more aware. Under different names is sought for renewal, as business spirituality, social responsibility, significance, ecological business, servant leadership, etc.
Entrepreneurship also aims to ensure greater social responsibility for people. It is recognized increasingly that it is human well-being. The often wide gap between rich and poor here is called the biggest problem, though not always explicitly mentioned. Therefore we in the Netherlands too good.
At the international level is repeatedly drawn attention to poverty in the world. The call for something to do in business is also becoming stronger, but in practice there is not much happened. It is noteworthy that often the wealthiest developing countries that suffer the greatest poverty. The wealth in these countries remains unfortunately limited to a small elite.
The poignant pain of poverty is far from my bed and does not penetrate easily into our consciousness. However, it can help small companies to do a lot and fortunately happens too much. A few seemingly insignificant and transient event can sometimes stronger our awareness of these inhuman reality.
In the Parool of 15 May I read a radically deep story, titled: "They are mad with fear, which jumpers." A drug boy jumps off of the flat when the police invade. Rather die than be deported seems incomprehensible, but the Ghanaian pastor Tom Marfo from the Bijlmer explains, "People are terrified of the police. Why would anyone with common sense jump? They are mad with fear. Fear of deportation. Dutch brain can not understand. You have to imagine: a family sells all possessions so that one of their young men can go to the west. They work here seven days a week to their families livelihood. All hope and all debt of the extended family rests on him. Imagine what it means that he returns with only the clothes he wears. Rather than death, that is honorable. They come from unimaginable poverty, the only hope is to make here. Then the expansion worst thing that can happen to them. They are here to keep others alive. They do not jump to the police, they jump for uitzetting.Hoeveel people risking their lives on boats kapseizende? The chance of dying is 95% and still they come. It is their only dream for the future "
What is the solution? They come less they help alleviate poverty in their own country. That seems an impossible thing, but entrepreneurs are important for a small-scale approach in the fight against poverty. They can create relationships and networks of compassion and courage to make myself something to do. That's what responsible entrepreneurship.
| Sincerely, Paul de Blot Professor of Business Spirituality Nyenrode Business Universiteit | ![]() |
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Dear Paul,
We would live out our lives more events to use for enrichment as a man.
Caught in a system of more of the same, we are 'poorer' and see how far the human size disappears.
Hope springs eternal. Fortunately, we see new leadership and has put systems in question.
In time we will risk management and image exchange for innovation and responsible (chain) management.
Your guest lecture at the DMA last year has contributed to my status and bonus in exchange for being.
I wanted to let you know this already, but the themes in your blog seemed to me a nice connection.
As an entrepreneur I am now trying to help organizations to CSR.
It is not easy, especially at this time, but it feels so much 'richer'.
I like to talk further with you, though it was just to supplement your airplane collection.
Sincerely.
Albert Jourdan
@ Alobert Jourdan: thank you for your support. I am glad that is strengthened by it. For airplanes like I always recommend, that's my hobby
Dear Paul,
Many think that we still have in the Netherlands. Poverty is increasing, however, particularly in terms of compassion. Poverty in the Netherlands is compared to poverty in developing countries. Whether this comparison is real? Here one must meet very many duties and a more expensive standard of living. It seems to me impossible to compare this, unless one of the Netherlands wishes to create a developing country.
I myself have experienced that hardening should be pursued, that commitment is no longer necessary, for both in-state, and by health authorities. Competitive activities are promoted, this could lead to cooperation at all?
It is truly unbelievable what fighter willing to work other people have to make?
Ergo more and more people are busy surviving or are required to volunteer in the maddnes (make a different day) visit. Of this there can be some responsibility with respect to the (social) life?
Power and money determine the policy and are therefore not responsible for the pain and suffering, which many other people live. Anyway, I know that many other people, including myself, a better life and this also needs to learn to give. One need not be the best way to everywhere from the best in themselves to learn to live. Unfortunately, this increasingly depreciated.
If someone wishes to learn, I have assisted many people with regard to the meaning question.
For years I have also coached people at the end of life and also regarding the question of the meaning of life.
Believe me, it's really nice when you can just be themselves and must learn to be at the service of their own and fellow human being. Even the social economy benefit.
Although I by no means learned, I know by now what hurt the most. Distrust and amortized in to participate in public welfare life.
I am pleased with your attention to this problem. Come against many walls.
My experiences and thoughts are sometimes regarded as being delusional.
It is what it is.
With friendly and frank greeting
@ White Rose: Thanks for your experience. It's about the experience
Yes, Social Enterprise is not only feasible. It is already in place
Both concepts are, by definition, inextricably linked. It can not have one without the other. Now it only happens a lot at the micro, local or regional level. About the big puddles it suddenly becomes harder and throw all kinds of bodies who want to arrange it for you, but there just seems to need more direct contact which is often not offered. There is also an increasing need for transparency of these organizations, with the credit crunch etc. in mind, which is often not offered. There are several plausible Ingen under which corporate social responsibility, even in different continents. And entrepreneurs in the plane and their knowledge and expertise and share resources. The largest group of entrepreneurs and enterprises is careful with projects until global social entrepreneurship internationally easier, more transparent, reliable and above is more direct. This development will undoubtedly come because of a growing consciousness of unity. As ever, the pioneers who pave the way and point the way. Let them especially in the sun set. Good example to follow.
@ Jan Willem Kloeute: you're right Jan Willem. Do it by example
Dear Mr. Blot,
Thanks again for your great column. As a volunteer in one of the poorest areas of Bogotá, Colombia, the gap between rich and poor is not exactly far from my bed, I plan to continue doing so next to my work as a consultant. In this district there poverty and violence, the people who live here are mostly displaced, many have relationships with the guerrillas or the paramilitaries. This also included the catastrophic circumstances.
And precisely here is the difference made by the companies and the insertion direction and entrepreneurship development, something that unfortunately happens too little. NGOs often work still based on charity, "giving to give," which is not much long term effect. Give a man a fish and he has food for a day, teach him to fish and he has food for his entire life. Of course, here again are two sides to it, since some time the children at the school where I work lunch and breakfast, as they otherwise an empty stomach in the class would go, to what effect they are not feeling well and not pick up dust.
Here I work with parents in workshops on self development, particularly in response to the mistreatment of women, and youth (15-16 years) in workshops on entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. Fortunately, it happens more and more that companies and NGOs on a more sustainable way with these themes get to work, there are families that have benefited from these facilities and their maintenance now can provide for their own business. However, there are still families who take advantage of everything offered, but not from their poverty. Much of it has to do with the attitude of the people if they are victims of the situation, whether they accept this and they find a way to get out?
Unfortunately, this much seen as an 'extra' activity, in addition to business activities, and not integrated in the value of a company. Companies are handing out gifts, take pictures for the newspapers, and then disappear again. Well this will be more and more things that contribute to the development, educational materials, workshops in music and drawing (creativity).
In short, we're going in the right direction but there is still much to do and much to improve.
Sincerely,
Inge de Dreu
@ Inge de Dreu: I appreciate your optimism Inge, keep it up
Dear Paul,
Social enterprise feasible?
I do not think so. Because the culture is so put together. Competition is good they say. In my experience, competition leads to greed. Competition is struggle, the best and want to be. Otherwise you can not save the world where losers and winners. It is a logical consequence of competition, I think that there is one who travels. In our experience is that a weaker.
Those weaker has "lost" so let him be. He or she puts it not improve the situation. Get rid of it.
I have sometimes asked what the difference is between saying "Go forth and multiply" and the saying "divide and Unite." The answer was that the first was about procreation and the second about money.
"Go forth and multiply" implies something more that you can make.
"Unite and divide" implies the opposite.
But if you share can also be more. It's friendlier and more honest. Both or all we have the same. As much or as little.
The latter is to us.
"Go forth and multiply" is the reverse 'same' as "Unite and spread."
Go and multiply is the same as unite. If you unites you with more. That is also multiplying. But if you then multiply divide nothing. You will only increase. If there is only one factor, multiplying, there is always another factor that has less.
In society, the one factor that gets more that small elite clique. That is to multiply on someone else's back. Because the 'key' is based on the competitive model. There is so divided it alone is the key in my eyes wrong. One has more than the other. (Is a very old principle and learned). But it is the same as nature, life works.
This elite club so the most money. The banks might. Banks are the most powerful in the world. They make or break an entrepreneur. It seems that the bank may determine the entrepreneur to join the elite club. You saw that politics and the banks with each other and not without each other.
The money that they initially inpompten was only to equalize the balance. The balance was reset to zero. Although the balance was put at zero, the group continued arms as big. But because there is money rich group had had to be pumped again 'back' deserves to be. Result ... the rich go slightly poorer. The arms are not as poor poorer and the group is larger. The rich can now make more money on the larger (MADE) group arms. Because the rich can not everything distribute. The 100% money must of course be more. People think that just as only the rich can multiply. They seek each other out. They unite. Happy! But they share other than 50-50. The rich want 100% so the other must to 0%. And then we,-which is 100% - do have for the poor ....
You're in good hands! Trust in politics. Welcome the Paternalism.
The father, the child undressing.
The question was, of course it was all about whether we can help society to third world countries.
As long as we 'example' giving our interpretation of divide, so will the third world to follow. Do not be surprised if it remains so.
C'est la Vie!
@ Rezza: You're right Rezza. Corporate social responsibility is not feasible but target Baar at least to not continue to sink