Editor's Focus--A Sense of Perspective

Those of us who often refer to ourselves as drowning in work or otherwise struggling to stay afloat are probably reconsidering our word choices since the late August arrival of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast.

Images and stories from New Orleans and the battered regions where the storm hit have served as another reminder that some of the short-term problems that we face must be put into perspective. Similar to when the 9/11 attacks occurred or when the tsunami devastated coastal areas of Asia, the path of destruction of Hurricane Katrina reminds us to be wary of self-absorption.

Entrepreneurs can rightfully contend that theirs is not solely a matter of self-absorption. The well-being of their families is directly tied to the health of their businesses, and they have taken on partial responsibility for the lives of any employees and their families.

Entrepreneurship enjoys a largely favorable status in America, with people from across the political spectrum exalting the ability of small business ownership to draw the best traits out of people, as well as offering a way up the economic ladder for people of modest means.

Successful entrepreneurs can be among the most generous of people. Contrary to the perception of entrepreneurs as people possessing tunnel vision with their gaze fixated upon financial success, the experience of nurturing a business through setbacks and adversity can form people with a true sense of appreciation and compassion for those in need.

A business owner I know from the recycling industry called to say that he was donating $50,000 to the Red Cross for its hurricane relief efforts and that he hoped publicity for the donation would spur other business owners to match that donation to start a chain reaction of charitable giving.

The concern in his voice for the lives lost and for survivors who faced the loss of everything was genuine. He noted that recyclers have enjoyed prosperous times recently, and there was no question in his mind that helping out in the face of a disaster such as this was imperative.

Many confidential shredding firms have likewise enjoyed prosperity in recent years, and donations are doubtlessly beginning to flow. Corporations large and small, public and private, are making contributions anonymously and visibly to reflect their understanding of the serious impact of this event.

It should be noted that among those affected are people who earn their livings in the secure destruction and storage businesses, as a posting on the Web site of Iron Mountain alerts readers. In that company’s case, all New Orleans-based employees have been accounted for, and initial damage assessments are encouraging.

Such notices serve to remind us that in the course of our facing our business challenges, there are often larger problems faced by those around us.