Capitalism: Don’t hate the game; hate the bad players.

I have been rediscovering how to frame what “good” looks like for one of the most critical institutions in our lives – companies. In this edition, let’s explore the overarching theme of the essence of “capitalism,” without which we will not be able to align on the underlying details.

Tour de France: Should we blame a tournament for the choices of dopers?

What comes to your mind when I say “Tour de France?” I anticipate two types of reactions. Some might say that it is the world’s most elite cycling tournament. Others might say it’s scandalous due to the history of doping among elite cycling athletes.

Neither group is wrong. But it is important for us to delineate what each group is really talking about. The first group is talking about the essence and intention of the Tour de France and the vast possibility behind it. The second group is likely thinking about their observations of unethical individuals and groups and their behaviors in or around the Tour de France.

In the case of cycling, it’s okay for some of us to not care about this delineation and even entirely avoid the Tour. But that is not true when it comes to doing business. The air we breathe and the water we drink, not to mention everything else around us, are directly shaped by how we buy, invest, and work.

It is true that an amazing actor can take on a bad script and be part of a terrible movie. But the reverse can be equally true. A great story or book can be handed to a lousy writer, a poor director, and bad actors to create an unwatchable movie. If we were a writer, director, or actor, what would be a better use of our energy? Should we preemptively assume others won’t pull their weight, or should we focus on putting our best foot forward?

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