(Part 2 of an ongoing series)
The 1995 movie Billy Madison, the comedic inspiration of Adam Sandler, tells a completely improbable story of a grown man who must repeat elementary school in order to inherit the family hotel business fortune.
As a business ethics motivational speaker, business ethics consultant and book author, who every day must wrestle with serious matters, I admit to finding the movie laugh-out-loud hilarious.
Yet, the movie, as goofy as it appears on the surface, delves into the world of business ethics. Indeed, in Billy Madison’s final exam to see who will ultimately assume control of his father’s mega million-dollar business (I said the movie was improbable!) he chooses the category “Business Ethics,” which melts down his movie antagonist and chief rival “Eric” (Bradley Whitford). The movie has been the subject of much debate and has been studied in courses and by numerous movie reviewers.
Billy Madison: Why is Business ethics so hard to explain?
Movie critic Claire Sandberg, in her October 27, 2018 piece on Billy Madison makes an interesting business ethics observation well worth sharing (the italics and parentheses are mine):
“But despite the simplicity of the subject matter, Eric (the antagonist) still doesn’t get what it (business ethics) means because he lacks even the smallest ounce of empathy for the people in said businesses. If you’re not able to see why other people matter, or if you’re able to see and choose not to care, business ethics and ethics in general becomes an inscrutable riddle.”
What I treasure as a business ethics motivational speaker, business ethics consultant and book author is that while the goofy, ne’er-do-well Billy Madison character, has gone through life playing village idiot and court jester, he genuinely loves and respects people. He cares for his wealthy father’s groundskeepers, chefs, butler and when forced by his father to repeat school he loves the kids, the teachers and principal. He is silly but never mean; he plays practical jokes but is not vindictive; he brings people together, not drives them apart (no wonder one of his teacher’s falls in love with him).
When asked that final question to determine control of the company, “What is business ethics?” his antagonist cannot explain it. He rants and rages but is unable to see what Billy sees: that employees have the potential to be kind and good and trustworthy – and more than that respected team members, if they are but nurtured and given the chance. Billy sees people for their hearts and souls. Billy cannot understand why his antagonist is blind to it.
Ahead of its time
When Billy Madison asked: Why is Business ethics so hard to explain? He raised a valid business ethics point that clearly rings true to this date. Perhaps that is why this silly 1995 movie is still being written about 28-years after it was made. As a business ethics motivational speaker, business ethics consultant and book author, I ask the same questions of my audiences.
For Billy Madison’s message clearly anticipated the ESG message of today; Environmental, Social, and corporate governance, the need for diversity, equity and inclusion and with it all, the respect we must develop for one another.
Adam Sandler did not produce a profound movie, but in his way, he encapsulated the essence of business ethics.
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