Ricky’s Online Business Blog

“Don’t be evil.” What a well-known statement Google declares to the world. Unlike some companies who don’t practice what they preach, I guess Google is doing a pretty good job in living out their promise. Read about their well-documented code of conduct here.

Is there is a seed of evil in us? Is it why we need laws, rules and ethics to “regulate” us so that we don’t do evil? Otherwise we can just go amok and the world becomes upside down as everyone is free to do anything that satisfies his or her own selfish desires.

There are businesses who “do evil” by shortchanging customers and employ unethical means to compete in the market. There are business people who think “touching on the borderline of the law” is perfectly OK. After all, we are all in business. You want to be nice to everyone? Don’t be in business!

What some may not realize is that businesses who don’t believe in having good ethics may not be a sustainable business in long run. They may win something today but their evil conduct can hit them back later, perhaps even hit them so hard that it costs their very existence.

There are proper ways to compete and win over customers in the market. Those who have good corporate ethics like Google are well respected. Not like those who act evil today and think they can repair their image tomorrow.

This does not apply to businesses only, but also to individuals, non-profit organizations, government agencies and yes, even political parties. What’s good in it to win a battle now only to lose a war later? And in politics, what’s good to win a state now only to lose the entire nation later?

So businesses, don’t be short-sighted. Justice will prevail. The customers will decide…

Just a few quick notes to keep motivating myself to press on in life

• We were individually created for a purpose on earth.  There is a reason why we exist.
• We have been equipped with the necessary potential to fulfill our purpose in life.
• Our job is to draw our potential out, not to underestimate our self.
• We must not let criticisms from others to undermine our own potential.
• We must not let rejections in life to undermine our own potential.
• We have yet to reach our full potential.  We can always do better in life.
• We can always reach out to bless more people in life.
• We can always enlarge our territory (sphere of influence) in life.

Press on towards our goal!