The Tao of Enron: Spiritual Lessons from a Fortune 500 Fallout

by Chris Seay, Christopher Bryan (Contributor)

The subtle seduction of power and riches has taken over corporate America. WorldCom. Global Crossing. Tyco. Enron. What do all of these once ballyhooed but now reviled corporations have in common, besides bankruptcy and a passel of soon-to-be-indicted senior executives? They all share a thirst for quick profits at the expense of investors, employees, and the most basic of business ethics. The Tao of Enron shows how the core values at Enron led inevitably to its implosion. By sketching out the stories of several of the principal players in this debacle, the authors show how pride, impatience, a lust for power, and the ability to mentally separate issues of faith from the practice of business joined forces to destroy one of America’s most admired "young" companies. Authors Chris Seay and Chris Bryan examine the universal issues of faith we can learn from this Fortune 500 fallout. The hard-learned lessons can benefit not merely the boardroom, but also the living room. Anyone can fall prey to the same lust for power, possessions, and status that poisoned Enron. Considering that in 1997 over 57 percent of Americans believed you sometimes have to bend the rules to get by in life (Barna Research), this book is necessary in helping us inspect our goals and beliefs and how they play out in our everyday lives. All of us must choose between two roads that stretch out before us––and all of us are "this close" to the dark side.

205 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2002

Reviews

[Lawanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very confirming and convicting of my own recent thoughts about simplification, consumption, greed and integrity. Very powerful, well-written with bibliography and discussion questions.

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read... and it wasnt at all just about Enron. I definitely found myself in there (unfortunately). Talks a lot about humility, greed, contentment, pride. Here's a quote - "The depraved nature of humanity afflicts all of us. the Enron fallout merely displays on a very public stage our collective arrogance. The company's collapse reflects more than the failure of a few particular executives."

[Erika Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned more about Enron than I had learned in any Business, Economics, etc class.
I do admit it has to do with "Spiritual lessons." For example, Seay condemns the leaders of Enron for being Greedy, then quotes the bible to prove a point.