I just wanted to get some discussion started about the ethics of various businesses that seem to be popular on here. A lot of focus seems to be on ecommerce, finding a manufacturer in China, and selling (mostly) here in the US. I will admit I shop at Walmart, I buy things made in China etc, but I was wondering what are people's thought about leveraging the work of Chinese migrant workers and getting rich off of it? I'm NOT trying to call people out, but am curious to see who has been to China and seen the working conditions for themselves and if they are satisfactory. Most of the people who have dropship ecommerce businesses on here I'm sure have never even been to China. There can even be some debate over how outsourcing is "hurting" the US since we have turned into a service-based economy when we used to be manufacturing based.
I myself am interested in "low-maintenance" businesses such as self-storage, billboards, parking lots, mobile home parks etc but some of them conflict with my morals at some level. I believe Americans have WAY too much crap and running a self-storage business would only be continuing that. To me, all advertisements brainwash people and influence them directly as well as subconsciously and can affect people's self-esteem etc; obviously billboards would contribute to that.
Also, are starting MLMs ethical or not? Look at the recent charges against ZeekRewards. Getting a free pass to the CES and faking that you are involved in the industry? Selling a site on flippa that you just lost your main supplier but the numbers don't show that? Negative SEO "bombing" of competitors sites? etc etc These may seem like little issues, but they do affect me mentally at some level.
I know this can turn into quite a heated discussion and can be a very deep discussion on many levels. I have many thoughts on the issue and was just wondering what other people thought or if they even think about any of this? Please don't flame me too bad, just wanting some thoughts on the issue, thanks.
I will add, I face ethical decisions all the time when it comes to rental real estate. What to charge against the damage deposit. Evicting tenants because they can't pay the rent or giving them a chance. What if a college kid has to go home because a parent has cancer or something; do I still charge them the full term of the lease or cut them a break? Discrimination when it comes to screening tenants. Is something "worth" fixing up if it is "technically" not necessary? And on and on and on....I can tell you, I'm far from perfect.
I myself am interested in "low-maintenance" businesses such as self-storage, billboards, parking lots, mobile home parks etc but some of them conflict with my morals at some level. I believe Americans have WAY too much crap and running a self-storage business would only be continuing that. To me, all advertisements brainwash people and influence them directly as well as subconsciously and can affect people's self-esteem etc; obviously billboards would contribute to that.
Also, are starting MLMs ethical or not? Look at the recent charges against ZeekRewards. Getting a free pass to the CES and faking that you are involved in the industry? Selling a site on flippa that you just lost your main supplier but the numbers don't show that? Negative SEO "bombing" of competitors sites? etc etc These may seem like little issues, but they do affect me mentally at some level.
I know this can turn into quite a heated discussion and can be a very deep discussion on many levels. I have many thoughts on the issue and was just wondering what other people thought or if they even think about any of this? Please don't flame me too bad, just wanting some thoughts on the issue, thanks.
I will add, I face ethical decisions all the time when it comes to rental real estate. What to charge against the damage deposit. Evicting tenants because they can't pay the rent or giving them a chance. What if a college kid has to go home because a parent has cancer or something; do I still charge them the full term of the lease or cut them a break? Discrimination when it comes to screening tenants. Is something "worth" fixing up if it is "technically" not necessary? And on and on and on....I can tell you, I'm far from perfect.
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today
