This article is being reposted from May 9, 2013. It was originally written with a target audience of corporate leaders responsible for hiring. Regarding the ethics of egoism, Immanuel Kant said, “So act that your principle of action might safely be made a law for the whole world.â€
One truth that we live by is that we need to look out for Number One… if we don’t toot our own horn nobody else will do it for us. It seems that we have all suffered from the perception that our trust has been betrayed by those we expected to help us. In a knee jerk reaction we rely on egoism to guide our actions and we learn not to expect help from anybody. That is not exactly true unless we are in a bubble or live as a hermit, but in organized society we need to be self reliant to be taken seriously and to be firm in our convictions to protect ourselves. Egoism is not a trait that is inherently negative. It is not the same as egotism which implies a selfish imposition of our wants on others. Ethical egoism is a natural trait of believing that there is a moral right in maximizing self interests. One of the most challenging times for us is when our livelihood is in jeopardy because of economic setbacks or loss of employment. These are also times that can cause a conflict between our self-interests and those of others… including employers.
An *academic study of the various forms of egoism is not necessary to understand our feelings when we experience this emotion and act accordingly. Some believe that all of humanity reacts out of egoism all of the time. Others believe that only rational intent makes egoism happen. Regardless of the perspective, we seem to know instinctively when to stand up for ourselves. It may not be quite as apparent that there are times that require a shift in that focus. There is a time to press forward and a time to back off.
- Always use an ethical approach – Ethical egoism is not obviously a right moral code for the most people, but then no other moral code is instinctively obvious either. Ethics should always be the light on the pathway of a job seeker. Research shows that most people do not think about ethics instinctively. After some arbitrary boundary between the late teens and the rest of their lives, it is more common to follow cultural norms and values. People and businesses will not survive and flourish without pursuing their self-interests, so egoism is the moral code explaining how it can be done systematically, reaching goals, and achieving value without violating the rights of others.
- Always know yourself and your motivations – Self preservation means choosing our path rather than having it dictated by others. Job seekers need to have a forward looking plan that is able to meet immediate personal needs and allow room for future decision making. Reaching goals at any cost can be destructive of the process and delay positive results. Knowingly jumping into a bad job because it seems like a last resort is almost never the right choice. If there is no future or no path beyond the present, the entire work experience will be one of anxiety and dread. It not only sacrifices a piece of our self to someone else, we ultimately show it in a less-than-my-best performance. Egoism is never about settling for less than we deserve.
- Recognize egoism in others – In order to get our needs fulfilled, we need to interface with others that may also be in a personal trial to maximize a need. Interviewing with a hiring manager is an excellent example of the need for compromise in arriving at a mutual solution. If a job seeker only presents demands for self improvement and the employer only looks for her own needs, then there is a total lack of communication. When there is no common language it will always be a lose-lose situation. If a job seeker offers a personal presentation of problem solving skills that can be matched to job requirements, and the employer reaches out with by offering the benefits of employment by the company, the result is best for both sides.
There is probably not a good definition of egoism as it relates to companies, but since they will be no better than the people that form that culture some parallels can be seen. Personal happiness and corporate profits are related outcomes and self-preservation makes it all work. Remembering that compromise is not giving up keeps us on track toward not only achieving self interests but also promoting self improvement.Â
*From Wikipedia: Ethical egoism is the normative ethical position that moral agents ought to do what is in their own self-interest. It differs from psychological egoism, which claims that people can only act in their self-interest. Ethical egoism also differs from rational egoism, which holds that it is rational to act in one’s self-interest. If you are interested in a deeper study of the concept of egoism, Friedrich Nietzsche, Ayn Rand, Max Stirner and others provide insights.
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