Episode 82 - The Christmas Feud & Selflessness

Selflessness

Dec 15

Our mothers told us generosity wins in the end. But mom didn’t have an entire internet’s worth of statistics, economics, and science to prove it, did she?

After the last few financial crises, it may feel like the only way to get ahead in the corporate world is through strategic greed and political guile. And If people turn on your brand, you can always rebrand, right? So why give to charity as a corporate entity? Why bother feigning selflessness if your company is as permanent as a lemonade stand?

In past episodes we’ve discussed the attractiveness and wealth that comes with being social conscientious and altruistic (according to science) but what incentive is there to give to charity every Christmas? Especially if big companies are already giving to those same charities? What the individual donates is a drop in the bucket next to corporations, right? The answer to that question - who gives more, charities or the individual - will surprise you.

We’ll also cover the strangest Christmas feud ever started. The feud between two step brothers who were shockingly creative at gift-wrapping, and had an inexhaustible supply of concrete and metal.

History Links:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/panting-in-anticipation/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesky_Pants

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2015/11/story-two-friends-exchanged-pair-pants-20-years/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesky_Pants

Science Links:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/it-takes-effort-to-be-selfish/

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/do_kind_people_make_more_money

https://phys.org/news/2011-04-selfless-behaviour-success.html

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/smartest-countries

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_homeless_population

https://hbr.org/2002/12/the-competitive-advantage-of-corporate-philanthropy

https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=42