From My Shelves – The Soul of a Business

From My Shelves is a series of occasional posts that look at items from my personal collection to which I have a special attachment.

The Soul of a Business –  Managing For Profit and the Common Good by Tom Chappell (1993) – There has been a steady market for all kinds of “business philosophy” books over the last several decades.  I’ve been required to read a handful of them at various places of employ.  All of them have at least a few points of interest.  I have yet to have an employer who is willing to take all the steps necessary to make the philosophies work.

This was not one of the books given to me by an employer.  I knew of the brand “Tom’s of Maine” in a vague way.  It was some kind of a natural, good for your health kind of personal products stuff.  Since I have been using the same toothpaste and shampoo for most of my life, I hadn’t ever explored anything else.  How this book came into my hands, I can’t tell you.  I simply don’t remember.  I am a lifelong Episcopalian and it may have come from that association.

In the late 1980’s Tom Chappell, founder and president of Tom’s of Maine, went to his board with a curious request.  He wanted to get a Masters in Theology.  Specifically, from Harvard Divinity School.  The board was dubious.  They weren’t sure how this was going to help the business.  But it was part of a growing desire in Chappell to find a way to run a business that wasn’t built on the exploitation of the employees.  He believed there was a way to be profitable and still make sure that everyone in the company benefited from that success.

The book tells the sometimes wandering tale of what happened.  Chappell was suspicious of the business management types that he had seen, and that comes through in the book.  More traditional business people may feel their hackles rise at the criticism.  What is described here isn’t intended to be a traditional model.  While the last portion of the book is focused on the importance of small business and resisting the take over by larger corporations, it should be noted that in 2006 Colgate/Palmolive bought controlling interest in the company (84% for $100 million, the Chappells retained the remaining 16%).

It’s a very interesting approach to business from a different point of view.  Finding a business model that is seriously rooted in ethics for all in the company was a fascinating read for me.  It’s a concept and a book that has stuck with me for years.