Spiritual Capitalism Anyone?

It seems there are at least two current books on the market with this same title, Spiritual Capitalism, which is evidently designed to stir up some special attention, because these two words are rarely found together.

This first book, by Michael Hendren, looks fascinating, but I have not read it yet. The 2nd book is by Peter Ressler and his wife Monika Mitchell Ressler, and it is subtitled "How 9/11 gave us nine spiritual lessons of work and business." And it is a lovely, very personal story of a dramatic shift this enterpreneurial couple experienced in their business and life-outlook, in the aftermath of the events of 9/11. It is definitely a cry of the heart on one level, but they are also showing how they not only developed a set of new business principles, but learned to live and work by them, as well as support them anecdotally from their obviously extensive business experience.

What makes the book appealing is the fact that it is heart-felt, founded on personal experience, and interwoven with some very poignant--even if anonymous--business anecdotes.

What the book does not provide is an outlook to various business models that have been developed that might fit the category, but it is a powerful wake-up call. And evidently the Resslers are also offering seminars on the topic.

So, the challenge is on. A friend tells me that Jack Stack is old and tired now, and clearly he's been out front, and his is one of the more important practical methods of work place organization. Philosophically the "Great Game" approach is entirely consistent with the consent management system.

Good management accounting is the key to making it all work. More on that later. Another important practical dimension is to find ways to reflect some of the more important "externalities" which tend to get ignored otherwise. To extend the concept of business to include human values is powerful, though also fraught with problems, however there are many productive ways to bring such considerations to life.




(c) 2008, Rogier Fentener van Vlissingen