Figmentations

Have you seen the new animation piece on JibJab, called “The Drugs I Need” ? This piece isn’t produced by them and the issue it expresses isn’t endorsed by them, but they still share it on their site. How cool. On their home page they state the following:

Dear JibJabber,

As you may know, we don’t typically publish anyone’s work other than our own, but when this gem was brought to our attention we had to share it with you. The folks over at Consumers Union commisioned this incredibly irreverent and biting video on the prescription drug industry. We don’t endorse “issues” here at JibJab, but we do endorse comedy and this piece is brimming with it. Hoping you laugh as hard as we did,

Grevan

To me, that brings up two points to ponder…

First, I like the way JibJab states that they do not “endorse issues, just comedy.” I think it’s great to be able to separate the two, though I do wonder that if this were posted on a corporate blog, would it be possible to separate the two?

And, secondly, on a separate but related note, I like the way this piece communicates a philosophy of being respectful and not fearful of fellow industry professionals.

This is similar to what is described in a related post by Jason Kottke where he shares his business philosophy and that of companies that share similar beliefs:

• a company like Coudal Partners will only accept advertising from companies whose products they have used.
• and the philosophy of Ludicorp that includes : “Business owners…work for the enjoyment of their competitive skill, in the context of a life where competing skillfully makes sense.”
• and as Jason himself states “Not trying to take over the world, just doing something in balance with the lives of everyone concerned.”

I think I’ll add those thoughts to a growing philosophy that I’ve been reading more about here and there. That is of socially responsible companies. And, according to the Duke University, Fugua School of Business’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship:

“For our purposes, social sector organizations include any organization whose primary goal is to create value that cannot be reduced to economic wealth for owners or consumption benefits for customers, whether it is related to the promotion of good for human society, animals, or the natural environment.”

In recent years, I’ve just been feeling more and more that there just has to be more to business than simply only pursuing profits. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against making money or even making a lot of money, it’s just that I feel that business and life needs to be about so much more than just making money. Having values and doing what is good for others as well as ourselves is always a good starting place.