Moving Beyond the Profit Motive
By A. Thomas Young,
Former Executive Vice President,
Lockheed Martin Corporation
"It is imperative that business leaders broaden their interests to embrace concepts that cannot be measured with precision, but are fundamental to the quality of our lives. People usually understand why a parent or a community enthusiast may value the arts but question why a cost-sensitive businessman is so inclined.
"Efficiency has its place, particularly in the business world today, but in an enlightened, flourishing society, business and the arts complement one another. Both test the envelope of human creativity, intellect, energy and promise. Both seek to motivate, to produce, to achieve excellence, to grow, to unite. Both contribute to each other's success.
"Support of the arts improves the corporate image, brightens corporate reputation, strengthens customer relations, boosts the acceptance of products and enhances the morale and recruitment of world-class employees.
"Supporting the arts is good for business. It's good because the
arts more fully develop the potential of our employees. Experience shows
that the more well-rounded and intellectually expansive a person is, the
more value they contribute to, and derive from, life."