For more than 25-years, my purpose (and life’s passion) as a business ethics keynote speaker, business ethics consultant and book author, has been a sharp focus on teaching people about their choices and consequences. In my business ethics motivational talks, I don’t believe anyone has ever requested I give my insights as a movie critic.
This observation leads me to the movie Billy Madison starring Adam Sandler. While Adam Sandler can be hilarious, the 1995 story about a wealthy grown man being forced to repeat elementary school, hardly ranks with Casablanca or more recent Academy Award winners. In fact, it perpetually scores about three-stars out of five. Yet, its content is often used as an example of the problems with business ethics.
Billy Madison: Why is Business Ethics so hard to explain?
Billy Madison must complete elementary school because the board of his father’s business is challenging his “intelligence.” For Billy Madison is a clueless, ne’er-do-well who has pretty much led a dissolute life. Everyone has given up on him with the exception of a couple of senior executives and (of course) a teacher/love interest.
His chief rival for control of the company is a mean, “slick,” Yuppie-type who is a ruthless individual, who will stop at nothing to gain power.
Much to the chagrin of his detractors, Madison breezes through school (did you have a doubt?) and along the way, he treated his tiny classmates with humor, respect and love. For Billy Madison was at heart, a good guy.
As the final hurdle to the board granting Billy the controlling interest (I never said the movie wasn’t preposterous!) he and the ruthless slickster square off in a game show type setting. At the end of several rounds of questioning, the two “contestants” are separated by one point. Billy has the chance to pick the category his rival must answer. And – you may have guessed it; the category is business ethics.
Why is Business Ethics so hard to explain?
The Yuppie is asked to explain business ethics. He is not only unable to explain the concept, but he has a complete, over-the-top breakdown. The scene is as crazy and seemingly pointless as the rest of the movie; however, it does deliver on a point: business ethics can be a convenient, tossed-about term that far too many executives are absolutely unable to explain.
The movie has the ruthless executive “melting down” because he violates every concept of an ethical executive should be, from a lack of corporate social responsibility to insider trading to gender, racial and religious bias to violations of corporate governance.
Business ethics is not something that is necessarily hard to explain, it is only that far too many executives have to view themselves in an ethical mirror and they simply can’t go there. As a business ethics keynote speaker, business ethics consultant and book author, I have observed, heard and eventually, ethically counseled men and women who believed corporate ethics did not apply to them. Invariably, they had no choice but to pay the price for their arrogance.
Billy Madison: Why is Business Ethics so hard to explain?
For Billy Madison, a buffoon who had to repeat grade school, ethics was surprisingly a living and breathing thing. He treated those around him with a respect and kindness. He responded to people, not just reacted to them. He listened and showed compassion.
In the end, he encrusted the company to a friend of his father’s, because he saw that his life’s passion was to teach and guide others. He was going to enroll in college and get teaching decrees. He wanted others to make good choices and decisions for themselves. He was correct; good ethics is a matter of doing the right thing and what is right.
The movie will forever be perpetually silly but in his own way, Billy Madison will be perpetually lovable and decent.
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