The Responsible Company, by Yvon Chouinard and Vincent Stanle

Responsibility is a word used improperly too often in one’s everyday life. It is the state, to which one is acting accountably for something within his or her own power, control, and/or management. It is the ability to comprehend rational thoughts and make decisions within one’s moral compass. Beginning at a young age, we are taught the importance of responsibility on a daily basis. Whether it be on the basis of taking responsibility for foolish past actions, or behaving responsibly to develop one’s aptitude of dependability when tasks must be accomplished, the action of being responsible ultimately leads to adding meaning and value to one’s life. After reading The Responsible Company, by Yvon Chouinard and Vincent Stanley, one can begin to comprehend the true meaning behind utilizing corporate social responsibility (CSR) during business practices. Chouinard speaks about the moments in his career, where a company is encouraged and cultivated passed its ordinary human excellence to become more responsible when dealing with the many diverse environmental issues within the business cycle. Although there are many concepts and moments that Chouinard establishes as important, there are a few moments that seemed to have a deeper meaning and deserved another moment of reminiscence because it increased peoples’ sense of responsibility and capability to act responsibly.

Typically in the business cycle, companies have a tendency to become the most concerned with the sales sector of their industry. These companies look passed the environmental detriment of society for the chance at obtaining an additional dollar. “When money becomes a measure—as well as the means—of all things, the potential for economic and political mischief grows” (Chouin...

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...rs, will last for the foreseeable future. Challenges will always confront us but it is by the way we confront them now that we can see a brighter future. As President Abraham Lincoln said, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today” (Deseret News, 2013). We have a responsibility to the earth.

Works Cited

Berman, B. (2010, August 23). Products, Products Everywhere. Retrieved from The Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704100604575145920370092174

Chouinard, Y., & Stanley, V. (2012). The Responsible Company. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.

Deseret News. (2013, Februrary 12). 33 Memorable Quotes from America's 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Retrieved from Deseret News: http://www.deseretnews.com/top/1307/31/Responsibility-33-memorable-quotes-from-Americas-16th-president-Abraham-Lincoln.html