Generation Y and Business Ethics

Generation Y has been called one of the most entrepreneurial generations in history, mainly due to the Internet and knowing how to make it work for a business.

At age 19, I began to seriously look into owning a business to be my eventual career. Over the past 5 years, I've learned a lot about ethics through various sources including corporate jobs and conversations with several business owners who I consider successful not only financially but in life in general. Books written by business owners are helpful as well.

Through this whole process I've developed an overall sense of business ethics that I would never feel right bending for selfish reasons. That's a good thing in that not only will it ensure I act ethically as a business owner but will increase my chances for long-term success as well.

One major issue with business ethics is society has a somewhat paradox view of business success. If you're struggling to make your business work, you're the underdog hero and almost everyone likes you. When your struggling pays off and you finally do well, suddenly parts of society treat you like you've taken advantage of people to get to the top. I've always found that strange. I'd much rather just earn something myself than to waste my time being jealous of other people and putting them down for making it.

The problem is I've even seen this "evil rich people" philosophy even taught in college settings by instructors who have never owned businesses. If you don't know any better, you'll self-limit yourself on how rich or successful you want to become because of thinking it's unethical once you reach a certain point. For the most part, the business owners that succeed long-term have treated people right. Most of them are just normal people who had a good idea and worked very hard to achieve success.

The real heart of business is helping other people get what they want, not greed. Some of the richest people I know got there because they were willing to serve people when others wouldn't. They really do deserve to enjoy their wealth. The lessons I've learned from wealthy people who were willing to talk to me have completely changed my point-of-view when it comes to money and success.

If you're a first-generation business owner or want to be one, my best advice is to find at least one good mentor, a person who has actually owned businesses. There are good people out there that would be willing to talk to you and even help you with advice, as long as you're not going to be direct competition. It takes some time and some research, but good role models will help you more than anything else out there when it comes to ethics.