Author, Peter Ressler pictured with New York City Firefighters. From Worthwhile Magazine, May 2005
"Out of Tragedy Meaning"
Spiritual Capitalism:
FDNY Inspires Wall Street Execs
New York, NY (October 1, 2006) –– Partners in a premier Wall Street search firm, Peter Ressler and Monika Mitchell Ressler have declared a cultural revolution, which they call “Capitalism with a Conscience.” Inspired by their extraordinary experiences with NY firefighters after 9/11, the Resslers have written a breakthrough book, Spiritual Capitalism: How 9/11 Gave Us Nine Spiritual Lessons of Work and Business. This dramatic story tells how tragedies and scandals in their personal and professional lives transformed their thinking in business.
Successful chief execs who represent top investment banks and global hedge funds, the Resslers lay out in Spiritual Capitalism their simple, gratifying steps to finding deeper meaning and purpose in work:
- —replacing greed with the FDNY code of honor and service
- — how to profit and benefit others through your work
- —the bottom line versus the human bottom line
- —responsibility of the fittest” vs. “survival of the fittest”
New York Times columnist, John Tierney, calls this emerging trend “Capitalism With a Heart.” He wrote, “Tycoons have traditionally discovered their inner saint only after exorcising their inner capitalist.” As examples, he mentions the philanthropy and social activism of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Google’s two founders, and Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks.
The successor to Jack Welsh at General Electric, Jeffrey R. Immelt became CEO on September 10, 2001, and like the Resslers, he was transformed by the disaster. He told the magazine, Fast Company, "Enron and 9/11 marked the end of an era of individual freedom and the beginning of personal responsibility." In a talk to Harvard Business School students, he said, “You have an opportunity in your lifetime to make a difference. The most important decision you’ll make is,
are you going to be a giver or a taker?”
Peter and Monika Ressler draw attention to corporate ethics issues such as the Hewlett-Packard Board investigation, and how it is increasingly unacceptable for the ends to justify any means – legal or illegal. Together with the outspoken titans of industry, the Resslers are changing the face of corporate culture. The two make frequent radio and TV appearances and are sought-after presenters at corporate meetings and business schools, bringing the firefighters’ code to business with the topic, “What the FDNY Taught Wall Street About Money.” Go to Press Kit (pdf)
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