Discussion
I find myself torn between head and heart. I run a small PR company that traditionally has specialised in aviation. Times have been pretty tight!
Have just had a new business meeting which has come to me via a referral. Essentially a company that makes money out of the Government by providing services to people who can't speak English. They want me to get them extensive publicity to lobby the Government into letting more of these people into the country, because then they will all get rich. This is contrary to everything I personally believe in. But it is a significant piece of business. Can I do something I really don't believe in just because it is financially rewarding?
What would you do?!
Have just had a new business meeting which has come to me via a referral. Essentially a company that makes money out of the Government by providing services to people who can't speak English. They want me to get them extensive publicity to lobby the Government into letting more of these people into the country, because then they will all get rich. This is contrary to everything I personally believe in. But it is a significant piece of business. Can I do something I really don't believe in just because it is financially rewarding?
What would you do?!
If you don't wholeheartedly believe in what you are doing then it is unlikely to be a success for you anyway in my opinion.
It is a difficult decision, especially when times are as hard as they are now, but I'd look on it as on opportunity to try and generate business in other markets that you do feel enthused by.
All IMHO of course - and good luck!
>> Edited by jeremyc on Monday 25th November 15:58
It is a difficult decision, especially when times are as hard as they are now, but I'd look on it as on opportunity to try and generate business in other markets that you do feel enthused by.
All IMHO of course - and good luck!
>> Edited by jeremyc on Monday 25th November 15:58
Probably not what you want to here, I also run my own business and times are very very tough however I could not bring myself to do it I am afraid.
I feel the uk is getting so bad with non british people, I have even concidered voting British National Party at the next election as I am so fed up with England going to the dogs. !!!
edited to say
Just my opinion dons Fire proof suit and runs !!!!!
>> Edited by phib on Monday 25th November 15:59
I feel the uk is getting so bad with non british people, I have even concidered voting British National Party at the next election as I am so fed up with England going to the dogs. !!!
edited to say
Just my opinion dons Fire proof suit and runs !!!!!
>> Edited by phib on Monday 25th November 15:59
Sounds like it might be worth taking a step back and considering the focus of your business before you take on a piece of work that is not in your area of expertise and will consume a significant amount of your time while you get up to speed and start delivering results that lead to good account cash flow.
Where does this lead? Or is it a significant enough opportunity that you can afford not to concentrate on a full/partial diversification out of aviation. In view of the likelihood that immigration-lobbying may be subject to all sorts of political vaguaries I would anticipate that this is (even though its via a referral and you probably need to check the validity of the reason for this referral carefully) a high risk venture. Certainly one for which you will expect the client to provide up front financing of your costs.
If you're desperate for cash-flow and the new account could significantly ease this, without undermining any rationalisation of your core business model, or creating any financial exposure for you and any partners, then I'd say go ahead. But establish some clear performance milestones in the contract for review at one month, three months and 6. If the account fails to live up to these then close it down and move on.
Good luck
Hutch
Where does this lead? Or is it a significant enough opportunity that you can afford not to concentrate on a full/partial diversification out of aviation. In view of the likelihood that immigration-lobbying may be subject to all sorts of political vaguaries I would anticipate that this is (even though its via a referral and you probably need to check the validity of the reason for this referral carefully) a high risk venture. Certainly one for which you will expect the client to provide up front financing of your costs.
If you're desperate for cash-flow and the new account could significantly ease this, without undermining any rationalisation of your core business model, or creating any financial exposure for you and any partners, then I'd say go ahead. But establish some clear performance milestones in the contract for review at one month, three months and 6. If the account fails to live up to these then close it down and move on.
Good luck
Hutch
Sorry, not meaning to sound like a leftie, but there are such things as legitimate asylum seekers, I realise that the criteria for letting them in needs work and we have opened our door to far to many of the wrong sort of people, but that does not mean we can turn our back on everyone. Does it?
:flameproofszippedallthewayup:
As for voting for the BNP, I trust that was a joke just an unfunny one.
Back to the question, do it what ever your stand point.
Business is business.
:flameproofszippedallthewayup:
As for voting for the BNP, I trust that was a joke just an unfunny one.
Back to the question, do it what ever your stand point.
Business is business.
the previous poster is right about the diversion into a new area... but have you thought about the effexct that it may have on your existing clients in the aviation industry?
I wonder whether being seen as a political PR agency may reduce your chances of winning specialist aviation business. Perhaps it has no effect. Only you can judge.
Hard choice.
R
I wonder whether being seen as a political PR agency may reduce your chances of winning specialist aviation business. Perhaps it has no effect. Only you can judge.
Hard choice.
R
mungo said: A very difficult question to answer so I won't. Consider this though...
If you don't get the business someone else will.
Spot on Mungo - or to put it with a slightly different spin - "if you do it then you have a better chance of making sure that it isnt underhand / wrong / illegal than if some less scrupulous person were to..."
Cheers,
Paul
Don't do it. Integrity is like virginity - once it's gone, it's gone, never to return.
Business isn't just business - CarZee shame on you! At the end of the day business is personal too. Phrases like "if you don't do it, then someone else will" are just wishy-washy bollox used by moral bankrupts. This is exactly the reason that so much bad stuff happens in the world, and some of the reason why UK plc is becoming such a
ed up country.
Don't do anything in business that you wouldn't feel comfortable morally doing for free.
Get enough people behaving like this, and sooner or later we'll get a decent society back.
Business isn't just business - CarZee shame on you! At the end of the day business is personal too. Phrases like "if you don't do it, then someone else will" are just wishy-washy bollox used by moral bankrupts. This is exactly the reason that so much bad stuff happens in the world, and some of the reason why UK plc is becoming such a
ed up country. Don't do anything in business that you wouldn't feel comfortable morally doing for free.
Get enough people behaving like this, and sooner or later we'll get a decent society back.
You could divert the guilt by taking the job, and the money, and give the project to the new guy in the office who's just busting for a chance to prove him/herself.
If they screw it up, D'oh, you didn't care anyway. If they make a go of it, you get the spon's.
You can't lose either way.
Out of sight out of mind....
Mouse
...well, if you're as shallow as me anyway.
If they screw it up, D'oh, you didn't care anyway. If they make a go of it, you get the spon's.
You can't lose either way.
Out of sight out of mind....
Mouse
...well, if you're as shallow as me anyway.
"As for voting for the BNP, I trust that was a joke just an unfunny one. "
Well not really however just a bit of a knee jerk reaction (very frustrated with this issue at the monment) as I dont know enough just yet to make an informed descision.
However most of my properties (which is my business) are based in and arround Bicester (where they are trying to build a camp for refugees).
Basically that will finish me and my business if it goes ahead, and having worked very hard to build up my business, it does get to me that we are just letting anyone in and then giveing them houses, benifit and cars !!!!!!!
For exaple what do we give to the british pensioners who went through two world wars etc to keep Britian Great, bl**dy nothing we let them freeze and starve !!!
Sorry for any offence caused in this reply but as you can probably tell this is and issue close to my heart and an issue that "REALLY" effects me.
Ted if you feel this opinion out of order feel free to bin it no offence taken.
Well not really however just a bit of a knee jerk reaction (very frustrated with this issue at the monment) as I dont know enough just yet to make an informed descision.
However most of my properties (which is my business) are based in and arround Bicester (where they are trying to build a camp for refugees).
Basically that will finish me and my business if it goes ahead, and having worked very hard to build up my business, it does get to me that we are just letting anyone in and then giveing them houses, benifit and cars !!!!!!!
For exaple what do we give to the british pensioners who went through two world wars etc to keep Britian Great, bl**dy nothing we let them freeze and starve !!!
Sorry for any offence caused in this reply but as you can probably tell this is and issue close to my heart and an issue that "REALLY" effects me.
Ted if you feel this opinion out of order feel free to bin it no offence taken.
Well, slap me on the thigh and call me Margret...
craigalsop said: Business isn't just business - CarZee shame on you!
So long as it's legal and ethical, business *is* just business! Like it or not...
Don't do anything in business that you wouldn't feel comfortable morally doing for free.
Do they teach that at the LSE (Lenin School of Economics 
)? Admirable I'm sure, Craig but what is actually wrong with what is proposed, so long as the people being helped are legal and legitimate Assylum seekers... ?
Get enough people behaving like this, and sooner or later we'll get a decent society back.
As I and others above said, better for the work to go to someone who actually has some ethics and honesty. And who's going to spend the proceeds on Optimax
Sorry, I shouldn't have been so flippant, this is obviously serious for you...
Are you going to get screwed by the situation anyway?
Can you relocate, or will that do the same? It sounds like your stuck.
I'm not a business person, but unless something changes, the situation, the location, the company ethos or the nature of your business, isn't your number up?
I have to say I entirely agree with the other stuff. We seem to be being railroaded into puting up refugees, of whatever kind, at a time in our history where we can't pay key public sector workers like errrr... firemen properly, let alone look after those who pitched in to make this country what it is.
Mouse
>>Edited by danger mouse to say this one is shootin' at PhiB, just in case I rattled his cage...sorry
>> Edited by danger mouse on Monday 25th November 17:31
Are you going to get screwed by the situation anyway?
Can you relocate, or will that do the same? It sounds like your stuck.
I'm not a business person, but unless something changes, the situation, the location, the company ethos or the nature of your business, isn't your number up?
I have to say I entirely agree with the other stuff. We seem to be being railroaded into puting up refugees, of whatever kind, at a time in our history where we can't pay key public sector workers like errrr... firemen properly, let alone look after those who pitched in to make this country what it is.
Mouse
>>Edited by danger mouse to say this one is shootin' at PhiB, just in case I rattled his cage...sorry
>> Edited by danger mouse on Monday 25th November 17:31
slap!OK Mags...
CarZee said: Well, slap me on the thigh and call me Margret...
So long as it's legal and ethical, business *is* just business! Like it or not...
Ummmm no, it may have far more implications than just the financial transaction between the 2 interested parties. In this case, we are talking about affecting the very society that we live in
Don't do anything in business that you wouldn't feel comfortable morally doing for free.
I wasn't suggesting that you should do it for free, merely that you shouldn't lose all your morals just because someone waves a big wedge of cash under your nose.
That has nothing to do with it - from Mon Ami's original post "This is contrary to everything I personally believe in"
Admirable I'm sure, Craig but what is actually wrong with what is proposed, so long as the people being helped are legal and legitimate Assylum seekers... ?
This is the crux of my argument - that he is thinking of doing something that goes against his principles for money. If he genuinely believes that what he is doing is a good thing, then fine, go for it.
As I and others above said, better for the work to go to someone who actually has some ethics and honesty. And who's going to spend the proceeds on Optimax
But the very act of taking this job would compromise some of these aforementioned ethics & honesty I would imagine.
CarZee said: Business is business, Mon Ami - if you weren't providing the service, someone else (less scrupulous, no doubt) would be doing so..
...you could justify making money from ANYTHING on this basis - arms dealing to sadistic dictators, selling child pornography, etc.
Don't get involved with these people. This 'temptation' is a test - ride it out and something better WILL appear.
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