There are a number of excellent business books, many of which focus on the “how to” of business.
How to be more successful, grow a business career, become a better manager or win at business are common themes. Good business books share true stories of leaders, provide research and data, describe the success of their writers or subjects, share tips and tactics learned, and offer wisdom gained over the lifetime of a career.
Few people, however, would consider a fictional book, written more than 170 years ago, which features ghosts as main characters, to be a business book.
I believe though, that the book “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens, provides one of the greatest business lessons ever written.
The book’s title character, Ebenezer Scrooge, would arguably by today’s standards be considered a very successful businessman. Through a long-term partnership, he had built a very successful business as a result of a lifetime of hard work. He was wealthy, and strongly believed in and preached self-reliance. He was cautious with his money, not spending foolishly. To be clear, many in society today would praise his business acumen.
But those who are familiar with the story know that Ebenezer Scrooge had his flaws. Primarily, he failed to nurture and grow the most important aspect of business; people. He was not a well-liked individual, and contributed little to society. He apparently had no interest in the growth and development of others, and his relationships with people were in the context of business only.
As the story unfolds, Scrooge is transformed through a series of visits by spirits. He is reminded of his past, and what he tossed away for the pursuit of financial success. He is given a window into the present, the ability to watch those who surround him every day as they create lives rich in relationships, understanding they measure their success beyond the terms of money and wealth. But most disturbing to Scrooge is when the final spirit reveals his future. It is at this point he learns a very important lesson. Scrooge, even with all his wealth and power, had led a life of wasted opportunity, devoid of the contributions he could have made to help others succeed, grow, develop, and ultimately survive. He had been given so much, yet in the end, had really accomplished nothing other than enriching himself.
We all know that in the story, Ebenezer Scrooge did change, and led his remaining days as positive force for good. It all makes for a nice story, especially at the holiday season.
But the business lesson here is simple. Many of us spend many hours of the day at work or in a career. Some will become financially successful, and others may simply make a living. But ultimately, business is not just about making money. It’s also about having an impact, whether upon our communities, our colleagues or those we interact with on a daily basis. The book “A Christmas Carol” serves to remind us, as stated by one of the ghosts, “Mankind was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The deals of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”