In anul 1923 s-au intalnit in Edgewater Beach Hotel din Chicago, Ilinois, 9 dintre cei mai influenti si mai bogati oameni din lume. Impreuna controlau mai multi bani decat Trezoreria SUA.
- Charles Schvab – Presedintele celei mai mari companii siderurgice din SUA
- Samuel Insull – Presedintele celei mai mari companii de utilitati
- Hovard Hopson – Presedintele celei mai mari companii de gaz din America de Nord
- Arthur Cutten – Speculator pe piata de cereale
- Richard Whiteney – Presedintele New York Stock Exchange
- Albert Fall – Secretarul de Stat pentru Afaceri Interne din cabinetul presedintelui Harding si posesorul unei mari averi
- Jesse Livermore – Cel mai mare personaj al generatiei lui pe Wall Street
- Ivan Krueger – Lider al celui mai mare monopol din lume
- Leon Frasser – Presedinte al Bank of International Settelments
25 de ani mai tarziu:
- Charles Schvab – a dat faliment
- Samuel Insull – a murit exilat, sarac si cautat de politie
- Hovard Hopson – a inebunit
- Arthur Cutten – a intrat in incapacitate de plata si a murit in strainatate
- Richard Whiteney – termina o condamnare si iesea din inchisoarea Sing - Sing
- Albert Fall – a scapat de pedeapsa cu inchisoarea si a murit sarac in casa lui
- Jesse Livermore – s-a sinucis
- Ivan Krueger – s-a sinucis
- Leon Frasser – s-a sinucis
Puterea imorala, fara Dumnezeu, corupe si da iluzia nemuririi. Pozitionarea in varful piramidei sociale este vremelnica si cu costuri personale imense.
5 comentarii:
Doar ca eu am moralitatea in sange, dincolo si indiferent de orice credinta in recompensa pe lumea cealalta(si aici ma refer la crestinii care respecta morala crestina doar de frica, nu pentru ca o simt cu adevarat ... nu toti, dar sunt destui).:) Platesc si voi plati necredinta, dar la un alt nivel decat persoanele lipsite de moralitate... "numai" prin cunoasterea incertitudinii si a fricii autentice si profunde. Oricum, probabil ca asa este, influenta de moment e doar o iluzie a puterii in timp si a controlului.
Te inteleg si te cred!
Am discutat saptamana trecuta cu W. Era consternat in urma unei discutii pe care o avusese cu tatal lui, un catolic practicant austriac, care toata viata nu lipsise la slujba de duminica.
L-a intrebat cum se simte in fata mortii stiind ca isi va revedea sotia pe lumea cealalta?
- Prostii, i-a raspuns, nu cred ca mai e ceva dupa moarte. Gata!
Lipsa lui Dumnezeu este la fel de trista ca iluzia gasirii Lui in numele conforamarii la un model social traditional.
Din pacate, insa, sistemul "moral" despre care imi vorbesti este ca si cum in mijlocul unei tornade te-ai lega cu funii de otel de un fulg de papadie purtat si el de furtuna.
HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS?
A popular story recounts a meeting that may have taken place at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago in 1923. There is debate whether the meeting in fact occurred, but what is not in question is the actual rise and fall of the men featured in the story, who were nine of the richest men in the world at that time: (1) Charles Schwab, President of the world's largest independent steel company; (2) Samuel Insull, President of the world's largest utility company; (3) Howard Hopson, President of the largest gas firm; (4) Arthur Cutten, the greatest wheat speculator; (5) Richard Whitney, President of the New York Stock Exchange; (6) Albert Fall, member of the President's Cabinet; (7) Leon Frazier, President of the Bank of International Settlements; (8) Jessie Livermore, the greatest speculator in the Stock Market; and (9) Ivar Kreuger, head of the company with the most widely distributed securities in the world.
Twenty-five years later, (1) Charles Schwab had died in bankruptcy, having lived on borrowed money for five years before his death. (2) Samuel Insull had died virtually penniless after spending some time as a fugitive from justice. (3) Howard Hopson was insane. (4) Arthur Cutten died overseas, broke. (5) Richard Whitney had spent time in Sing-Sing. (6) Albert Fall was released from prison so he could die at home. (7) Leon Fraizer, (8) Jessie Livermore, and (9) Ivar Kreuger each died by suicide. Measured by wealth and power these men achieved success, at least temporarily. Making a lot of money may be an acceptable goal, but money most assuredly does not guarantee a truly successful life.
Many people think of fame and fortune when they measure success. However, at some point in life, most people come to realize that inner peace and soul-deep satisfaction come not from fame and fortune, but having lived a life based on integrity and noble character. President Lincoln put it this way: “Honor is better than honors.” At a Congressional Hearing on ethics in July 2002, Truett Cathy, founder of Chik-Fil-A, quoted Proverbs 22:1: "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." In the final analysis, living an honorable life really is more satisfying than fame and fortune. How do you measure success?
© 2010 (To use this short essay or refer to this Web page, please cite the original article from which this essay was a part, "Business and Accounting Ethics" by Dr. Katherine T. Smith and Dr. L. Murphy Smith. In April 2010, this article was the first website listed after a Google search for "accounting ethics." ).
Ar mai fi un mic amanunt: Informatiile de mai sus nu sunt intru-totul exacte. (25 de ani mai tarziu primul personaj era deja decedat, al doilea era decedat si falit dar nu era urmarit de politie s.a.m.d.)
Frumos blogul, am stat sa-l citesc pe tot si am reflectat la intrebarea de astazi. Am sa va raspund pe mail.
Draga Ciprian, multumesc pentru comentariu! Ma bucur ca realizezi ca nu este vorba despre o povestire din memoriile-mi proprii. :)
Este o poveste mult mult mai veche decat mine si chiar decat articolul citat de tine si este si foart populara. De aceea nu am putut sa citez nimic. Te invit doar sa dai o cautare dupa unul din nume de exemplu...
Multumesc pentru interesul pentru articol si pentru observatie; recunosc ca m-am gandit si eu la copyright dar nu am gasit o referinta ultima la care as fi putut raporta povestea.
Morala istorisirii este insa puternica!
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