Spirituality in business: An entrepeneurial approach from a humanistic perspective

By Jaime Meschoulam

Some aspects of our daily life are so disparate that it might seem impossible to bring them together. It's like trying to mix water with oil, success with humility, or spirituality with business and money. However, Jaime Meschoulam, a well-known entrepreneur, athlete, and speaker, believes that it's not only possible but also highly desirable to mix business with spirituality. In his book, Spirituality in Business, Jaime shares his family's tradition and various spiritual approaches to demonstrate how this union can be achieved. In today's world, full of challenges as it is, adopting a spiritual approach might be just what anyone involved in business and, entrepreneurship needs, or indeed anyone seeking to improve their spirituality. Spirituality in Business represents an exciting attempt to reconcile material and productive gain with spiritual themes, such as ethics and honesty. It is an enjoyable read that makes discovering these themes easy—a must-read for anyone looking to enrich their personal and business libraries with contemporary literature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gratia
• Release date: Jun 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9788419829849

Book preview

PREFACE

Dear readers,

Welcome! Together, we will embark on an enriching journey through paths that seemingly don’t intersect, but in reality, are one and the same road—I’m referring to spirituality and business. Throughout this journey, we will enhance our repertoire of skills with practical tools. Most importantly, our worldview will be enriched with ideas and thoughts that will guide our personal and business lives. And not only that!

This book does not seek the commonplace or clichés. It is not a cookbook with secret formulas, or a compendium of spells, incantations, and enchantments aimed at achieving results through little effort. It is not a book that offers shortcuts, cheats, or dubious ways to achieve business success quickly and effortlessly. This book is intended for individuals who are committed to their families, businesses, and society. It offers proven spiritual tools that come from the wisdom that the Creator has entrusted to humanity throughout the centuries, derived from the words and examples of extraordinary human beings, both men and women, who have paved the way for countless generations. This does not mean that the book seeks to impose a specific view of God or promote a particular religion, quite the contrary! But it does emphasize that God has placed His trust in people of integrity and kindness, entrusting them with sharing His precepts.

As you read through this book, you will discover that the principles it presents are universal and can be applied to all aspects of life. These principles help us become whole, materially successful, and spiritually fulfilled individuals. Although the guiding principle of this book is based on the spiritual wisdom given to Moses on Mount Sinai, we also draw on the ancient wisdom of great and respected religious and philosophical traditions. These teachings are meant for everyone, so that we may become the best versions of ourselves. This is not meant as an exercise in memorization or repeating empty phrases. On the contrary, it challenges and invites us to act, to live with a sense of purpose in serving others, to recognize our own shortcomings, to understand where we are and what we need to do to reach our desired destination. Above all, it encourages us to assist and support our fellow human beings on this journey. As the Chinese proverb says, He who travels alone travels faster, but he who travels with others travels farther.

One last note…

This is not a book to be read just once; rather, its pages are meant to be read and re-read whenever we face obstacles in life. With each experience and every challenge, we overcome, we will grow personally and spiritually, extracting more wealth from its pages. Thank you for joining me on this journey. I sincerely hope that we learn from the wisdom contained within these pages and, most importantly, recognize that humanity as a whole is made in the image and likeness of God, without distinction. We are all blessed with inherent dignity and worth, and it is our ethical obligation to respect our differences. We have the duty—and the opportunity—to conduct our businesses with a spiritual, honest, and moral vision. Only in this way, by respecting our differences, seeking common good and mutual service, can we honor Our Father and Creator."

PROLOGUE

FROM HUNTERS TO ENTREPRENEURS

A CHRONICLE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL EVOLUTION

The Hadza tribe is one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes on the planet. They live a nomadic lifestyle near Lake Eyasi in present-day Tanzania. They survive by constantly moving with the herds of zebras, antelopes, and families of baboons, which they hunt with the help of a pack of dogs that lead the hunting expeditions. At dawn, one can see them climbing to the top of hills, armed with their bows and arrows, to watch the movement of their prey from afar. Some time ago, Mike Corey, a BBC presenter from London, conducted a magnificent interview with one of the tribe’s leaders. This interview prompts us to reflect deeply on essential topics of the society we live in, as well as the processes that allowed humanity to develop civilization gradually, along with our current reality, which is dominated—apparently—by social organization, science, and technological development.

In the interview, Mike Corey asks Socolo, the tribe’s leader, a simple yet complex question: What is the most important thing in life? To which the interviewee, with a somewhat innocent yet chilling smile, immediately responds: "Manaco (meat...) and, after a few seconds, adds Baala" (honey). The hunter gains a great advantage from his way of life, which awakens in him the instincts and impetus necessary to rise every morning to pursue a new prey. The Hadza tribe has survived for thousands of years based on their practice of seeking immediate gratification. They seize any opportunity that presents itself, no matter the effort or risk involved. Despite the dangers of potentially exposing themselves to more powerful predators and the effort involved in days of pursuit and stalking, everything is validated at the euphoric moment of killing the prey. They celebrate the ingestion of its meat by the light of bonfires surrounded by hungry humans who happily enjoy their ephemeral success. It’s another day of hunting and survival.

Although our society is vastly different from that of hunter-gatherers, this instinctive psychology of stalking and conquest still exists in many people as they hunt their prey in the concrete jungles of the modern cities of our advanced civilization. It makes one wonder if we have truly evolved