thoughts on corporate community (via fastcompany)

[chris raettig <chris@raettig.org>]

i read this whilst digging around the archives at fastcompany.com, and
it struck a chord. so i include it here for my own reference, and for
the interest of others.  [-chrisr]


its part of an article published in 2000. sixteen leaders in business, 
philanthropy and social activism consider the serious question: what is
the responsibility of those who have much to those who have little?

i guess i've been thinking a lot recently not just about corporate ethics,
but personal ones as well.


excerpt from; http://www.fastcompany.com/online/41/one.html


Francis Moore Lappe
Cofounder
The American News Service
Cambridge, Massachusetts

The problem with the phrase "giving back" is that it denies our true nature. 
It presumes that we perceive ourselves as standing on the outside of our 
community, feeling obligated to contribute because we're so privileged -- as 
opposed to being deeply entrenched community participants. Fundamentally, we 
are social beings. Our true nature calls us to connect deeply to our community 
and to find larger meaning in what we do there. Community makes life fun and
meaningful. It brings depth to our lives and enriches our most intimate
relationships. In that way, making a contribution becomes a mutual exchange,
rather than a one-way transaction.

How do we reclaim our social nature? By creating new cultural norms. To
transform our society into something truly life-serving, we have to project
images of people who act on their innate need for connection and meaning --
not on some sacrificial inducement to be charitable. When the media glorifies
a do-gooder, we think, "I could never do what she did." The do-gooder is
turned into a kind of freak. But really, that person is just like you. The
only difference? She took a risk. She would shock you with her ordinariness,
if you really knew her.

How can you reclaim your true nature? Find an exemplar. Seek out people who
are emotionally intelligent and who are already acting on their deeper social
nature. Call them, get on their boards, become friends with them. When you
start associating with people who are living the way that you want to live,
you start to become a different person. And when you break away from the
give-back mind-set, you will begin to reinvent social expectations about what
it means to be an entrepreneur -- and a human being.

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