By Ron Kustek
In December of 1843, just 178 short years ago, Charles Dickens wrote ‘A Christmas Carol.’ It’s been made into countless movies, abridged, interpreted and modified.
However, it is often overlooked that one of the main tenets of the book is about business, and especially how the developing economic principle of Capitalism was affecting everyday people at the time.
This was one of the first novels written for the general public that characterized the haves (business owners) vs. the have-nots (workers).
Likely, we’re all very familiar with the repentance and reclamation of Scrooge after being visited by 4 spirits: The ghost of Christmas Past, the ghost of Christmas Present, the ghost of Christmas Future, and the 4th spirit (actually the first to visit) was Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge’s former business partner.
A Christmas Carol is an illustration of how two young capitalists (Marley & Scrooge) joined forces to take over a business and in doing so, put Scrooge’s prior employer, mentor and subsequent competitor Fezziwig — out of business. It all seemed the logical progression of success, being able to leverage one’s strength in order to outcompete in the marketplace to eliminate competitors.
Besides, Fezziwig and his wife were very simple ol’ school folks, who too frequently put the joys and welfare of their employees above their own need for more profits. In fact, the Fezziwigs were known for their employee Christmas parties, where gifts, music, food, drinks, appreciation, singing and dancing among all attending was known throughout the entire city.
But as the story developed, it became clear that the way Scrooge defined being a good and smart business person had some drawbacks.
Scrooge lost the love of his life in exchange for the love of money from business. Scrooge overworked his clerk Bob Cratchit — the father of Tiny Tim who was in need of medical care beyond what the family could afford.
Think of how we sometimes manage our businesses — tightening our profit margins, hiring qualified people for the amount we choose to pay them, because we also have to provide for our own families … just as every one of our employees must do.
So let’s revisit one of the most overlooked parts of ‘A Christmas Carol’ which Dicken’s foreshadowed in his preface that he “endeavored in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season or with me.”
As a refresher, Jacob Marley died alone, without any family or other friends, leaving everything he had to Scrooge. Marley’s only earthly friend was Scrooge, so Marley arranged for Scrooge to be visited by 3 spirits, in hopes that Scrooge would better understand how to be a better person in both life and business.
Jacob Marley’s ghost confronted Ebenezer Scrooge late on Christmas Eve, and the exchange between the two former successful business partners was one of the most poignant scenes in literature and in film:
“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” faulted Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself.
“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”
It held up its chain at arm’s length, as if that were the cause of all its unavailing grief, and flung it heavily upon the ground again.
“At this time of the rolling year,” the spectre said, “I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down …”
So, to all of us workers, employers and community members, let’s all endeavor to embrace the teachings of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and truly make a reality Tiny Tim’s request of fairness and understanding, when he simply said, ‘God Bless Us, Everyone.’
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Ron Kustek is a former senior executive at The Coca-Cola Company and small business entrepreneur currently teaching at Cabrillo College. Reach him at [email protected]