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A Statement of Corporate
Consciousness
Most companies today have a
carefully prepared Mission Statement, which sets out the long
range objectives of the enterprise. Yet very few companies
have what I believe to be its requisite companion, a Statement
of Corporate Consciousness. Under the laws of the United States,
business enterprises that are incorporated enjoy many of the
benefits normally accorded only to individuals. For example,
a corporation can:
- Sue and be sued in a court of law
- Enter into contracts
- Buy and sell both real and personal property
- Be held responsible for breaking the law
- Be held responsible for its own debts
A corporation is a separate
legal entity that potentially may exist in perpetuity. First
year real estate law students quickly learn that “the law
hates perpetuities.” Yet when it comes to corporations, the
law steps in to create a perpetual entity. Even the deaths
of all its officers, directors, and shareholders would not
cause the automatic end of a corporation.
When one sees a corporation
for what it is, a voluntary association of human minds engaged
in a common activity, it becomes strikingly clear that if
this entity is going to behave properly and succeed it must
have some degree of unified consciousness. Like most individuals,
however, many companies never take the time for the introspection
required to form a coherent view of what their company should
be known as and remembered for. Equally important is the fact
that without a clearly articulated declaration of corporate
consciousness, the officers, directors, and employees of that
company often end up unconsciously sabotaging one another
and, ultimately losing site of their company’s mission.
As the pace of life seems to
be quickening, it is more important than ever before that
these superhuman organizations experience a growth in their
collective awareness so as to keep pace with the personal
growth experienced by their customers, employees, and shareholders.
It is from this point of view that I promote the creation
of a Statement of Corporate Consciousness
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