The Profit Motive
I am still slightly tainted with the social cultural cringe that is prevalent in my social circle when it comes to selling on line – but only on the odd occasion. Owning one’s own store or educational institution doesn’t have the same cringe factor when it comes to making a profit. But selling online is seen by some in my social circle to be just one stage up on multi-level marketing, as though the profit motive is sufficient to make one drop all of one’s personal values as soon as money comes into view. This cringe factor is irrational, but awareness of its impact is the first step to letting it go.
It is interesting that most of those negative about online marketing that I come across are paid by the education industry. They have no hesitation in working for money, perhaps not seeing that they are trading their time resource for money. Most of the institutions they work for are in the business of making money from students to pay for their salaries, but perhaps they believe that is OK as long as the making money bit is at arms length. I could go on and on about how they are happy to buy their food, their TV and their internet and phone services… but I think my readers get the point about the irrationality about it all.
Basically, any business has to make a profit and even the not-for-profit sector must avoid spending more than they get in. Profit is necessary to pay the bills. Without it our society cannot exist.
Hi Harriet,
I’m a new student of John Thornhill and I’m checking out his past students blogs to see how much progress they’ve made. I found your blog very interesting, filled with many varied subjects. Yes, it’s funny about your academic colleagues having no qualms about taking money in exchange for their time, thinking that as a noble thing. But selling stuff online and doing internet marketing is somehow tainted, unworthy of their lofty minds. But, of course that doesn’t surprise me, after all professors are well known for their progressive/liberal mentality. Well, life really is all about making money, and there is nothing wrong with that. We all need money to pay our bills and feed our families. The world is driven by capitalist principles, it’s what makes the world go around. And that is a good thing. I hope you make lots of profits and you can do it in your jammies to boot! Good luck in your online ventures.
Warm Regards,
Eva O’Neill (USA)
Thank you for your thoughts. Life does include making money and I think learning to buy and sell wisely is a very important skill for all people to learn. Our society encourages buying – though not always wisely, but selling is often considered the task for those not bright enough to do something more important! Oh the arrogance of it all.