The recent focus on corporate giants such as Enron, MCI WorldCom, and others has led me to pray about power in corporations and how it is used. As an executive, I realize my responsibility to exemplify the behavior I want modeled in the organization I work for, and that includes ethical and honest business and accounting practices. Corporate executives don't start out wanting to mislead, misinform, or destroy the life savings of their employees, but the perceived need to maintain a competitive edge, please stockholders, and increase earnings at all costs can drive them to inappropriate business practices.
Whenever I find myself in questionable circumstances or I'm at a crossroads, I always rely on prayer to guide me. I start my prayer by knowing who I ultimately work for and am responsible to. I remember that my true employer is God, good—Principle—the one and only true power. By this I mean that each person is designed to express God's qualities and that our real job is to be faithful to God's design for us. For example, divine Principle implies integrity, honesty, truth. Since each individual is made in the likeness of God, no one can be kept from expressing those and other divine qualities. In Science and Health Mary Baker Eddy wrote, "God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience." Science and Health, p. 106. This is true for all people, and these rights are practical and available to everyone. Another truth that has been helpful to me is the conviction that God governs every aspect of my career—and the careers of others. Listening for divine inspiration enables people to find work in places where they can do the most spiritual good and experience the most spiritual growth. Each individual can know what it is like to be governed, guided, inspired, and protected by the one divine Mind that can never lead anyone to unethical behavior.
Many years ago, while working for a major company as a business manager, I uncovered some questionable and fraudulent financial accounting. When I brought it to the attention of senior management I was quietly told to look the other way—or leave. I earnestly prayed about this. I didn't want to lose my job, but I knew what I'd been asked to do was unethical and dishonest, and if it was uncovered, I would be held accountable. During this time, I not only prayed for guidance for myself but for senior management as well. Fear was driving their behavior, and they in turn were instilling fear in the employees. I prayed to know that they couldn't be manipulated or influenced inappropriately by a desire to please stockholders or keep their competitive edge. The one Mind was governing all of us, and we each had a right and a responsibility to do what was right. They were being governed by a higher law, even if they didn't know it. I also knew that I couldn't be intimidated, manipulated, or influenced to do something I knew was wrong in order to keep my job.
