Image generated with Meta Ai
Good day hive learner community Let's reflect on this week's prompt profit or ethics It's a topic I'm happy to talk about cause the world we live in is that after chasing money we forget our ethics
Let’s be honest with ourselves these days, most businesses are chasing just one thing profit. Bigger numbers, more customers, fast growth. It’s not even surprising anymore. I get it the fact that a business needs money to survive, to pay staff, to grow. Nobody’s denying that.
But what I keep asking myself is: what’s the price for all that profit?
We hear words each day like honesty, integrity, and doing the right thing They all sound nice. Companies love to put them on posters, in mission statements, on websites. But when real-life decisions come up the hard ones, the kind that cost money those values they set then usually get pushed aside. That’s where ethics should come in. Ethics isn’t just about looking good on the surface. It’s about doing the right thing to people even when no one’s watching.
Now, I’ll be real with you I haven’t seen many businesses choose ethics over profit honestly. If they exist, they’re rare. Most of the time, you only notice something about a product you purchased after you’ve bought the product or used the service. Maybe the quality feels bad or maybe the customer care is just not there anymore or it loses taste No one checks in, no one cares how it affects you. It’s like you were just a number in the system.
And when that happens, it stings. You feel played, being used or cheated rather like your trust didn’t matter it was just about your wallet.
That’s when I stop and wonder why is it so hard for a business to care and still succeed?
I do believe it’s possible, though. Just not easy.
Businesses that stick to doing the right thing paying fair wages, using decent materials, and not cutting corners often struggle at the start. Because doing the right thing isn’t always cheap or quick. But over time? People notice. They come back. They tell others. And slowly, your name becomes something that means something. That kind of reputation doesn’t need to a loud it speaks for itself.
But here’s the tough truth: the world doesn’t always clap for ethical choices right away. Some of those businesses burn out because they don’t have enough support. That’s why it takes guts. It takes real belief in something more than just money.
So maybe the question isn’t “profits or ethics?” Maybe it’s how we find the right balance? Profit is what keeps the lights on, but ethics is what gives a business its soul. You lose either one, and something starts to feel off.
At the end of the day, people remember how you made them feel, not just what you sold. And I think that matters more than any profit ever could.
TAP TO JOIN DISCORD
ABOUT AUTHOR
