The Self-Accosted Post

Self interest implies selfishness which has a negative connotation for many cultures.

Western cultures like to use the word “independence” to describe individualism; whereas Eastern cultures are not ashamed about promoting and surviving through collectivism. There is also a sense of independence in Eastern cultures, but to my knowledge, it is sometimes driven by self-consciousness (unwilling to give others trouble). Yet, we cannot deny that all of us, in any culture, have various degrees of this motivation to “make things happen for ourselves”. Hey, Steve Jobs got his success for himself. Before he had to become the breadwinner for a family, he was already climbing the ladder of the type of success admired by the general public.

Now, employees do have their own self-interest that we can appeal to. The usual mainstream suggestion would be to give them a sense of ownership, instead. But to give each employee a fulfilling financial ownership or psychological ownership over the success of the business would be an endless, exhausting effort. How can we ensure that everyone has equal (strong) sense of ownership? Not pertaining to this method, my wise uncle offers negotiation with his employees regardless of their performance. If they do well, their sick parents or family might be better taken care of because he gives rewards to those who decide to be honest, quietly, and of course they get to keep their jobs with increasing salaries over time. If they under-perform or cheat, they will not gain any favors from him, which usually makes them feel isolated and eventually turn in their resignation. So, really, rewarding self-interest which translates into desirable professional performance, in this case, proves effective, where my uncle manages to maintain over 5 stores with employees exiting voluntarily. Lean and mean! And for employees, it is really within their interest to do well and maintain their integrity with such a reward system. [Perhaps, this loose benefits system which allows the expression of silent favoritism should be replicated.] At the end of the day, the self-interest of the owner (my uncle) and the employees is being consistently promoted.

Now, is it really bad or evil to acknowledge self-interest? Well, it surely seems so in the world of the “altruism” industry (the non-profits or social entrepreneurship realm). Some say non-profit workers and social entrepreneurs have to survive (whether it is with bare necessities or with luxury; let’s not condemn personal preferences). Agreed! Development workers do enjoy their business or first class seats on the plane, nonetheless. Social entrepreneurs do enjoy profits and publicity. But in reality, for example, religious leaders and politicians are being criticized for their lavished lifestyles, especially in the midst of a financial recession, high unemployment or poverty. So these “public interest professions”, when put under the spotlight, get scrutinized. Sometimes, I question importers of fair-trade items who claim that they help producers of third-world origins and profit from product mark-ups. Artisans or producers earn a very little portion of the sale price of their products, while the importers or resellers earn a big chunk of it. I can also question leaders in microfinance organizations who get high compensations while the beneficiaries of the loans struggle to repay.
“We repeatedly get caught in this conflict between our professed moral principles and the real reasons why we do things—to wit, our self-interest.”, said Saul Alinsky on his book, Rules for Radicals. Good cause … is it good cause for others or for the self? Let’s not deny that in most, or all, cases it is for both. Corporations with advertised CSR programs get good image. Non-profit workers get personal fulfillment and a decent living. Social entrepreneurs get to pursue their passion and economic interests.

“Self-interest, like power, wears the black shroud of negativism and suspicion.” Yet Aristotle, in his lifetime, acknowledged that “… self-interest plays as prime moving force in man’s behavior.” So why do we often, in our minds, deny self-interest? Is it because “… it appears shameful to admit that we operate on the basis of naked self-interest, so we desperately try to reconcile every shift of circumstances that is to our self-interest in terms of a broad moral justification or rationalization.”? So why can't we not just be honest about it?