Holy books and business books: a poem

The holy books tell us
to love one another
to keep our eyes "on things above"
and to put others' needs above our own.

The business books don't say such things.
They say that business is "war without bullets"
and that love makes a good slogan
but is too flimsy, soft and blurry
to win the war
for talent
for technology
for capital.

The holy books warn of the evils of wealth.
The business books sing of the glory of riches.

Business often cuts at the branch
on which it stands,
and calls it progress.
So, a sharper saw won't help.
New tools and technologies will just be new wine
in an old wine skin,
not water to wine but
income to profit,
cashflow to IPO.

Business can be a holy endeavor.
But it will come at a price.
We will have to hold back
the feral desire that pulls at our passions,
turns the wheel of our skills to worldly ends.
We will have to withstand
the derision of today's bestsellers
and the reasoned rhetoric of
the icons of our age.

Business for life.
Business with a 1,000 year strategic plan
like Kongō Gumi from 578 A.D. and other shinise.
The holy books are the original business books,
but be warned that wisdom is slower than desire.