One of my favorite courses to teach at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University is ethics. The formal title of the course is “The Ethics of Advocacy,” and it’s open to upperclassmen who are starting to get real serious about what their own careers might look like in the next few years. Most of them have had a few internships — many at very prominent firms in New York, Los Angeles, or Boston. They are at that point in their lives where they really want to know how to succeed in the real world.

 The course is structured around applying ethical decision-making to progressively more complex business problems. We look at more than 30 actual situations, and I often provide them with some well-masked situations that I’ve had to face myself. We begin by talking about our “personal frame;” our view of the world and what’s right based on our upbringing, religious background, position in society, and experience. From there we consider some rational philosophical formulas that come from Emmanuel Kant, John Rawls, Aristotle, and others. We learn about utilitarianism, utility, duty, rights and justice. We debate consequences, alternatives, excusing conditions, and special obligations. We have great discussions.

 As these 20-somethings debate how business leaders consider their decisions, they begin to understand the sometimes complex nature of doing the right thing. The big decisions are easy — don’t pollute the river with chemicals from your manufacturing process, treat your workers fairly according to labor laws, and be sure you pay your taxes. Where the real ethical dilemmas come from are the myriad issues that are not defined by law — that are often not clear as to what is right or wrong. It’s at this intersection that the formulas we talk about in class help them avoid simply acting with personal instinct, instead taking a bit of time to consider all the sides of a situation rationally before acting.

 Leading these exercises with them, I am challenged myself. Their idealism of what is moral and right may surprise you, their expectations of leaders are high, and many of them have no tolerance for people who take shortcuts. I am encouraged every semester that the world is in good hands with these students who are trying to figure out how to behave and succeed. They know that Donald Trump’s “Apprentice” and the “Wolf of Wall Street” are not the path to great leadership, yet they also understand the realities of pressure that lie ahead.

 So, the next time you are looking to learn a bit about leadership and the application of ethical decision-making, strike up a conversation with a college senior. You might just be surprised what you hear.

Are you being heard?

Michael Meath is president of Strategic Communications, LLC, which says it provides trusted counsel for public relations, crisis communications, government relations, and business strategy. Contact Meath at mmeath@stratcomllc.com

Launch of National Export Initiative NEXT aims to enhance export assistance

Each May, World Trade Month celebrates the benefits that U.S. exports bring to the nation, state, and local economies. The month reminds us of the important link between exporting and job creation.

Americans are appreciating the fact that 95 percent of the world’s customers live outside our borders more and more each day. The middle class is growing quickly in regions like Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South America, and consumers in those markets want the goods and services that U.S. businesses have to offer.

This foreign demand is helping American families gain economic security. As U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker said recently, “While we cannot control the ups and downs of the global economy, we can and must remain vigilant to maximize the potential of every American company that wants to grow, hire, and compete through exporting.”

In 2013, New York businesses exported $84 billion in products to world destinations. These exports are an economic engine for the region and reflect the state’s diversity, extensive infrastructure, and entrepreneurial prowess. However, many New York businesses have yet to explore their export potential.

More than 80 percent of the world’s purchasing power is found outside U.S. borders. If a business is only selling domestically, it’s leaving money on the table. Many would-be exporters put off exploring overseas sales because they believe exporting is burdensome, their business is too small, or they may not be aware of available export assistance.

The reality is that during the last few years, exporting has become much more viable — the combination of the Internet, improved logistics and transportation options, and more free-trade agreements, has helped turn even the smallest companies into proactive exporters. If a company has a good track record of selling in the United States — one of the world’s most open and competitive markets — they’re likely a good candidate for making international sales. In fact, small and medium-sized businesses employing fewer than 500 persons account for 98 percent of U.S. exporting companies.

There’s also great opportunity for current U.S. exporters to expand their sales to new countries. Nationally, 58 percent of all U.S. exporters sell to only one market. For instance, a company that exports only to Mexico should explore additional markets in Latin America where the U.S. has many free-trade agreements. Altogether, the United States now has 14 free-trade agreements in force with 20 countries. Exports to these 20 nations represented nearly half of all U.S. goods exported in 2013.

In 2010, President Obama launched the National Export Initiative (NEI) to help U.S. companies increase exports, expand into new markets, and compete globally. Since 2009, nationwide exports have increased by $700 billion, reaching an all-time high of $2.3 trillion in 2013, and supporting 11.3 million jobs. During this same period, New York merchandise exports have increased by 43 percent. That’s good news, but much more remains to be done.

Based on four years of input from the business community, the Obama Administration recently launched NEI/NEXT, which aims to:

• Connect more American businesses to their next global customer;
• Make American businesses’ next international shipment easier and less expensive;
• Expand access for American businesses to finance their next export transaction;
• Promote exports and investment as the next economic-development priority for American communities; and
• Create, foster, and ensure the next global opportunity for American businesses.

Overall, NEI/NEXT means enhanced quality service, more potential foreign buyers, and reduced export transaction costs for U.S. exporters.

Through the NEI portfolio, the International Trade Administration’s U.S. Commercial Service and its U.S. government partner agencies such as the U.S. Export-Import Bank and Small Business Administration have dramatically stepped up the availability of export financing, providing businesses with every incentive to expand their exporting efforts.

Exporting can be rewarding and challenging, but the key to success is having a long-term commitment and doing the required “homework” first by developing an export strategy and seeking relevant assistance. By doing so, companies will greatly enhance the chances of taking their business to the next level — offering them economic stability and growth, and the possibility of creating new jobs right here in New York state and Central New York.

John Tracy is a senior international trade specialist of the U.S. Commercial Service in Syracuse. With offices in 108 U.S. cities and U.S. embassies and consulates in more than 70 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service connects U.S. companies with international buyers. For more information, visit www.export.gov/NewYork.

What did nuns teach us in Roman Catholic schools in Syracuse and beyond?

They taught us what was right and wrong. Now that seems like a simple matter. Unless you bring “relativism” into your thinking. You know, the old “Relative to what?” game. It’s a nice day. Oh? Relative to what?

The nuns did not deal with relativism: This violates the Ten Commandments. This is a sin. That is not true. It is a lie.

This training helps sort matters for me. For instance, there is a famous politician who years ago was involved with fraud using securities. My securities licensing and training assured me her dealings were fraudulent.

Many years had passed by the time this got into the news. The statute of limitations kept authorities from charging her. Whenever she was questioned on it, she changed the subject. Nobody mentions it any more. But I know it was wrong. She committed a crime. Thanks to the nuns, no matter where she may rise in her political life, I will know she is a crook.

Years ago, I was visiting a friend at Christmas. His brother arrived. He was a highway supervisor for a county. He announced that one of the suppliers to the county had given him a big entertainment system for Christmas.

“It’s always a nice gift, every Christmas,” he boasted. “Last year it was a fancy barbeque.”

He and the family saw nothing wrong with this. “Relative” to the highway budget in the millions, I suppose it was peanuts. A token gesture. Relative to gifts that get handed out in business, it was nothing unusual. And, after all, prices ruled. Therefore this gift could not cause him to favor this supplier. Relative to those factors, this was just a gift.

But it was wrong. I know it was wrong because he would not dare tell county commissioners he had received it. I know it was wrong because the nuns taught us so. 

We see a parade of corruption out of Albany and Washington. We read about corruption that flows like water in Illinois, especially Chicago. We know New Jersey’s state flower is plastic. Its state bird is dead. Its state motto is “Steal.” Its state dance is the perp walk. And its state hobby is corruption. We see and know these sad things.

But we also know someone defends them like this: “You gotta admit everybody does it. Sure, he helped out a few pals, but look at his record. You have to grease a few palms to get anything done these days. Compared to what some of these other birds do, what he’s done is nothing.”

It seems to me that it is harder to swallow these excuses if you learned from the nuns of old. Sins were sins. No allowances. No wiggle room.

This brings to mind an incident aboard a Navy ship when I was 19. A sailor had discovered a way to sneak into a storage space for the ship’s store. He offered to collect watches for others. They buzzed about it until one of them objected. “That’s stealing. It doesn’t matter that it’s just Navy stuff. It’s stealing. It’s wrong.”

Yes, he happened to have been taught by nuns.

Some kids were never taught such distinctions. Their teachers did not make such judgments. Maybe their parents never did. Nobody said to them, “That is wrong. It is a sin.” Some were taught that sins to one person are not sins to others. Relativism.
There are several reasons I love to read about Harry Truman. One is that he saw things in simpler manner than perhaps any other president. He saw black and white and not many shades. Lies were lies to him. Wrongs were wrongs. And the scale of things did not enter into it.

When he sent letters to his wife from the White House, he bought his own stamps. He could have handed the letters to his secretary. She would have had them franked with the other mail. But, Truman said, that would have been stealing. Even at three cents. Even for the president.

Big politicians who accept vacations, flights on private jets, and campaign money for favors would not agree. The nuns would. Bless ‘em.

From Tom…as in Morgan.

Tom Morgan writes about political, financial, and other subjects from his home near Oneonta, in addition to his radio shows and new TV show. For more information about him, visit his website at www.tomasinmorgan.com

Sometimes heroes are easily identifiable, like our emergency responders and soldiers. Other times, it’s more difficult to see heroic qualities in those around us. But after some reflection, there are, in fact, everyday heroes just around the corner at your local mom-and-pop shops.

Just recently, America celebrated National Small Business Week. There is plenty to celebrate when it comes to our small-business owners.

Despite the odds against them, especially those created by New York’s excessive regulation and taxation, small-business owners and entrepreneurs thrive in our communities, provide local jobs, and help create healthy and prosperous communities. Amazingly enough, small businesses employ nearly 43 percent of American workers. New York’s small businesses account for 98 percent of all business enterprises in the state and employ more than half of the private-sector workforce.

These corner-store heroes put in numerous hours doing work they love and provide services and products necessary to the local community. Not only that, but also our small-business owners and their employees are just as innovative and productive as their big-business counterparts per employee. Small businesses’ importance in our downtowns and country corners is easy to see, but they need our help.

Despite that, New York has one of the least friendly business climates in the country. With numerous taxes, fees, and fines, and pages upon pages of regulations, New York is more of a foe than a friend to our small-business heroes. We’ve made some progress in scaling back taxes and providing relief, but there is much more to be done to make it easier and more profitable to operate a business in our state. On a daily basis, I advocate for our small-business community and the jobs it generates.

While we’re working on these matters in Albany, you can help too. Help our corner-store heroes by actually shopping in locally owned shops.

If you aren’t already, consider the ways you can incorporate shopping locally into your life. The rewards generated by supporting our local job creators are well worth the effort. Not only will you help your local small-shop owner, but also the dollars you spend there are more likely to be reinvested back into your own community and into other small businesses.

Marc W. Butler (R,C,I–Newport) is a New York State Assemblyman for the 118th District, which encompasses parts of Oneida, Herkimer, and St. Lawrence counties, as well as all of Hamilton and Fulton counties. Contact him at butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us