iPods, business ethics, and sleeping well at night

Healthcare Financial Management, Nov, 2003 by Kevin T. Ponton

One thing is certain: those who haven't yet been involved in "ethically challenged" decision making will be at some point in their career. Preparation and practice can ease the stress during the critical moment, making your decision more solid when the time comes to act.

A final thought: consider the real downside risk of not doing something that promises great rewards but causes you ethical qualms. What's the real price of saying, "I'm just not comfortable with that"? Reportedly, Warren Buffett doesn't like derivative financial products. Most bankers would probably say (not to his face, of course) that he's misguided on that score. But if the report is true, Mr. Buffett's position doesn't seem to have hurt him, and I'll bet he sleeps very soundly at night.

By the way, my son's iPod still works fine. He inherited a larger one from his older brother, and I inherited his "small" one.

Kevin T. Ponton is president, SprainBrook Group, Hawthorne, N.Y., and a member HFMA's Metropolitan New York Chapter. His e-mail address is kponton@mac.com.