Enlightened self-interest

Enlightened Self-Interest is the belief that the best thing you can do for yourself is to help others.

An excellent illustration of the concept is the parable about the man who died and stood before St. Peter, who pointed him down the path to Heaven. "But don't take the left fork in the road," Peter warned, for that leads to Hell.

The man went on his way down the path, and when he came to the left fork, he was so curious that he decided to check out Hell first, and then go on to Heaven. The road to Hell was beautiful, but after a few miles he heard a horrible outcry. Approaching closer he saw an enormous banquet table spread out with all the most delicious foods imaginable, yet the guests were screaming and wailing unconsolably. The problem was they were trying to feed themselves with three foot long chopsticks. So the food was falling on their laps, going down their shirt, in their hair, anywhere but in their mouths, and they were starving.

The man shrunk back in horror and hurried back to the fork in the road, taking the right fork this time. The road to Heaven was beautiful just like the road to Hell. After a few miles he heard laughing and singing and cheering, and on approaching closer, he saw a similar scene to what he witnessed earlier. The banquet table was the same, the food was the same. The guests were even using the same three foot long chopsticks. But here, they were feeding one another other.

The parable illustrates the concept that helping another person, which seems like an unselfish act, can actually be the most self-serving thing one can do. Many motivational speakers and life coaches emphasize the fact that the best way to achieve success is to take care that others succeed. This is enlightened self-interest.

See also Enlightened Capitalism

External Links

Economics of Enlightened Self-Interest