<p>I know Dartmouth is one of the most highly regarded colleges in the corporate world, and going there is an excellent way to pave for a career in business.</p>
<p>However, I can't help but wonder: how do you justify a business career? To me it seems the sole goal is to make money, which of course appeals to an extent due to the high pay and relative job security. But in the end you just benefit financially and no one else does. (Unless you become a humanitarian or something on the side.) </p>
<p>I'm mean, your life revolves around the market, and often times you are influenced so much that you make decisions to the detriment of shareholders for your own gain, etc, whereas in careers like teaching, though the salary is less, you directly help people.</p>
<p>How do you justify going into the business field?</p>
<p>“Business” is a very loosely defined term. </p>
<p>There are many aspects to the business world. For example, finance revolving around the stock market, technology, even social entrepreneurship. Sure, there are some who go into the business world looking to simply make a lot of money, but do not stereotype. Some are drawn to wall street, for example, for the excitement of it all. Waking up everyday not knowing what’s next, the ups and downs, etc. At the same time, there are entrepreneurial types that enjoy taking something and building it into something great. Have you seen The Social Network? Mark Zuckerberg did not start Facebook to make millions of dollars. He started it because he wanted to building something that could change the world. </p>
<p>So sure you can make millions, even billions of dollars working as part of the business world. However, you never will unless you truly have a passion for what you’re doing. Whether that’s building an awesome tech company or working in finance, or whatever is up to you to decide if you choose to pursue a career in business. Look beyond the money, though. There is so much more to business than meets the eye.</p>
<p>How justify? Well, do you like walking barefoot? Some businessman took his savings, started a factory, and made shoes that you needed. Since there was always the chance that you would buy shoes from someone else, he makes a profit to compensate himself for that risk if you actually buy shoes from him. You get shoes only at the price you feel is fair. You want to go barefoot? Would you happier with your feet torn to shreds just to be self- righteous about the guy making a buck?</p>
<p>How do you justify your stunning lack of knowledge of the free market system?</p>
<p>Do you eat? Are there employed people in your household? You have access to a computer – who paid for the capital to build it and sell it to you? Do you have access to medical care? Clean drinking water? Who made decisions to employ your teachers – or to even build your school? Who built the school?</p>
<p>C’mon. Making “moral” judgments on us? Who the eff are you?</p>
<p>I’ve worked in the public sector most of my adult life and have sacrificed severely for public service – but I’m not going to blindly knock “business”. With that kind of narrow thinking, you are easily dismissed.</p>
<p>I hope your Dartmouth application is a little more meaty than this pseudo-philosophical trope.</p>
<p>Business people can be very caring. We work with a local developer who makes tons of money and on the surface, seems pretty brusque and non-caring. So I was surprised when I opened the newspaper the day after Christmas and saw photos of him out delivering Meals-on-Wheels on Christmas Day. He said he’s Jewish and volunteers every year. “You have to give back,” he said. </p>
<p>I think it’s incorrect to stereotype all business people as cruel, uncaring people. They’re not!</p>