Ideas or Ideal?

The mahogany desk with its wide frame and equally foreboding and welcoming length never shook Jarrett Crooks. He had been prepared for the past few weeks to deliver his pitch to the board. He was already making six million dollars a year. But he had his eye on billions. With this new set of thoughts, he might’ve realized his dream.

“Mr. Crooks, we reviewed your proposal. We just have a few questions before we go any further.”

“Okay.”

“What is your plan for adding more fossil fuels? Is this really where we should be headed? We’ve been in the process of moving away from fossil fuels for the past seventy years. What is your plan?” Eveyln Plant asked

“I seek to extract as much coal, oil, and natural gas from this earth. It is not an addiction, fossil fuels, but a lifeblood. We must look at them as reliable and sustainable beyond solar and wind,” Crooks replied.

“Mr. Crooks, we’re aware that you are seeking to take the role of CEO from your current position as CTO. Why do you want to make this shift,” Collins Vaughn said.

“Money.”

“Excuse me?” Evelyn said.

“Were you confused by the word?” Crooks asked.

“It’s just improper to say money.”

“No, what’s improper is that billions of people live in abject poverty. That in Sub-Saharan Africa there’s a family literally dying to be rid of the oppressive heat much less a vicious government. What we take for granted, what is blowing in this room right now is the product of a chain of actions leading to a single brain.”

“You’re talking about air conditioning,” Vaughn suggested.

“That’s right. A wind turbine and a few solar panels are going to do less than a paltry job at providing that family with comfort. We quibble over the thermostat while a family sweats and perishes under the punishing sun. Only fossil fuels will save them. In the process, we would turn a sweet coin for our efforts.”

“Okay, Mr. Crooks. Is this an idea or ideal?”

“This is ideal above anything else. We will have the chance to see a change in global markets. With oil especially flowing, we will be able to show to the other nations just how greedy and selfish we can be.”

“Is that ideal?” Vaugn asked.

“Absolutely. All the altruistic acts are just like spraying poison on apples to make them look shiny and saying they’re doing something. Is that ideal you ask? I think we should sow seeds and water trees with our thoughts and actions based on egoism. There’s no room for anything else than that.”

“You’re saying that if we don’t sacrifice or compromise on principles, we might have a chance at making not only this firm better but also the world?” Evelyn asked.

“We should make our own lives better selfishly and as a result the world would benefit. It is within our grasp to lay the groundwork for our own existence to continue. That’s why talking about money shouldn’t be seen as gauche or impolite. That’s why you see people on corners and highways with signs about their pitiful state. That all stems from the refusal to mention money. It’s a great injustice and I seek to correct it.”

Vaughn and Evelyn exchanged glances. Vaugn spoke. “If you want to advance at this company, you’re going to need to be egoless. That’s what gets people in trouble. Honestly, I’m surprised that you would even propose this plan. You’ve always been selfless in your dealings. You take pay cuts and ensure that the team is victorious. What gives, Jarrett?”

The first name basis kind of jarred Crooks but it let him know that they were beginning to break down with informalities.

“I took those pay cuts to advance—selfishly. The whole goal is to win.”