How To Become An Enlightened Capitalist
Applying the art and science of EEPPSA (efficiency, effectiveness, precision, productivity, and self-awareness) to business.
The statement I begin every post in this series with is “I am a bit of a tortured soul. I live with a socialist heart and a capitalist mind”.
What I learned in my half-century of Zen and Taoist studies, and as a successful capitalist and philanthropist, was that most humans are pulled to and fro by lust, anger, greed, envy, vanity, attachment, and ego. The best we can do day today is what we need to do and do it with a combination of love and street smarts. With this in mind, I can honestly tell you that capitalism is among the most positive forces in human history.
When viewed from the bigger picture it is an expression of all the best things an economic system can offer a creative, innovative, and visionary thinker. Those who attack capitalism as an expression of power, negative influence, and greed are confusing capitalism, with the darker aspects of the human psyche. One need only look closely at what has become of most of the “so-called’ humane and idealistic economic, and social systems in history to see what a positive force capitalism can be. No matter how lofty many of the systems may have been conceptually, in the end, they either failed or were transformed by the natural human inclination for competition, hierarchal behavior, and reciprocal altruism.
Even the kibbutz movement in Israel originally altruistically driven collective communities have become, on many levels capitalistic. Though they were traditionally based on agriculture and service to each other, today they have expanded into other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism. In recent decades, some kibbutzim have been privatized and changes have been made in the communal lifestyle.
The word “capitalist” can mean two things:
· someone who likes to do business independently of an employer,
· it can also mean someone who invests, such as a venture capitalist invests in new businesses. An enlightened capitalist can invest in things that make the world a better place for present and future generations.
The basics of conscious capitalism are as such:
· Business sells things that people want or need.
· Investors in business make extra money (profit).
· Investors can take their profit and invest it in more businesses, in making the
business bigger, or serving others through this profit.
· Investors can get more profit if businesses are successful.
· The investors use profits to fulfill their needs and reinvest the rest to serve others.
Takeaway
Ultimately service to others cannot be mandated by the state or some regulating agency. The poor and disadvantaged need and deserve a social safety net. But as often as not it is the choice made by an extraordinary person seeking to do extraordinary things that makes the world a better place.
To read the Introductory Post in this series please click below
I’m the author: I am a game theorist and a teacher on peak performance. I am also a self-improvement coach offering advice for innovators of all levels who are dealing with obstacles and constraints in their work (and play).
I’m passionate about offering advice on creativity, innovation, inspiration, self-improvement, life lessons, mental health information, love, & movie reviews.
If you have any ideas you would like me to write about just email me at LewisCoaches@gmail.com
About my stories on Medium
Most of my Medium stories are anchored into the concept of Applied Game Theory. This idea explores how and why people make certain choices, including decisions related to their health, well-being, personal success, and self-awareness.
Researchers in game theory have won over twenty Noble Prizes. The movie A Beautiful Mind is about the life of John Nash, one of the pioneers in game theory.
Learn more about the powerful tool of game theory, for self-improvement, personal development, and strategic life skills.
Applying all of the gaming skills you have learned from the sandbox, through Rubick’s Cube, and now into video games and sports will change your life in every way, for the better.
If you have an interest in learning more about applied game theory, game-thinking, video game strategies, and gamer psychology you can begin by reading a short introduction to the basics of game theory I have presented below.
The article (a 6-minute read) also includes an in-depth video embedded in the article.
Both the article and the short video were created so they would be understood by 12-year-old.
The Article: Click below…
See all of my stories at — lewiscoaches.medium.com
The Source of this Story
This story was created from my seminar notes for (Harrison’s Applied Game Theory). To follow all of my extended Great Game Theory Guide postings and stories, check out the Table of Contents for the first few Medium.com postings at:
About the Author: Lewis Harrison, is a speaker a strategist specializing in applied game theory, strategies, decision science, and personal improvement
I am always exploring trends, innovations, areas of interest, and solutions to build new stories upon. Again, if you have any ideas you would like me to write about just email me at LewisCoaches@gmail.com
