John A. Allison, "Leadership and Values"

[muhammadzahmad]

informative and interesting...

[Attritive]

I thank existence for this man, and I value his existence in and of itself. I know of no greater man living today.

[MrJohnsallison]

I wonder if Albert Allison, born in about 1891 or 2, who went to NY as a young man is a relation? If so, you may be interested in googling his father John Dunlop Allison, and nephew, John Hamilton Allison - interesting stories of the sea.

[gatheringwithin]

Nice speech, but his argument about altruism is flawed the altruism is as part of nature as selfishness. the simple organism are purely selfish, monkeys are a mixture, human is more altruistic, it's result of empathy. It is quite visible we are social animals, being social means to work like one organism,for good of all, no one ask you to give everything to someone random that is just stupidity!! the intelligent act of selfsacrifice itsa cause for all progress.Teaching is an act of sacrifice

[beesleeper]

Americans will achieve freedom from capitalism. You may want to supplement that worhless MBA with something useful.

[jopie90]

@beesleeper I'll have some of what you are smoking.

[beesleeper]

@jopie90 I don't understand. Are you suggesting I am on drugs, like the obese junkie Rush Limbaugh? I don't use drugs or religion, including the faith-based bullshit of capitalist apologists. Nice try.

[jopie90]

@beesleeper I suggest you study some history.

[beesleeper]

Capitalism is essentially forceful. Capitalism only persists or endures by constant violence or threats of it, chronic intimidation, and relentless fraud and misdirection. AKA false consciousness.

Being contrary to human nature, capitalism has to use every form of survival enhancement it can grab.

(Americans have a Constitution that does not mention the necessity of enduring capitalism. Americans have the privilege, and duty, to achieve freedom from capitalism.)

[LogicalFlawDetector]

@beesleeper

"Capitalism is essentially forceful." The concept of free markets, free trade, or free enterprise is that people interact in the market place as buyers and sellers via voluntary cooperation. A transaction would not take place unless both parties think they will benefit from it and voluntarily agree to it. A business can only make profits by serving its customers well, by providing high quality goods (or else get sued for millions).

[beesleeper]

@LogicalFlawDetector

It is not voluntary. It is held in place by force. There is no consent. There is mere compliance from fear of arrest or worse. Capitalism has no legitimate foundation in social consensus.

[LogicalFlawDetector]

@beesleeper

LoL Ya, that's what I thought.

[beesleeper]

@LogicalFlawDetector

Lol Ya, "you thought." Like your stupid customer-oriented analysis. Haven't seen that since high school marketing class. Dipshit.

[favio1415]

you are an idiot based on your comment...if you make a comment like that one you are an idiot because you think you are right without consideri, doesnt make it stupid...

[bevobvnjr]

John A. Allison for president...?

[lglobo24]

@logical - it is not how you say it, it is what you say, and most importantly how congruent your behavior is with what comes out of your mouth. "Who you say and how you behave can not be incongruent" LGL

[LogicalFlawDetector]

This dude has the most southern accent on the planet! 

[lana071762]

ltlillil - Take a closer look if I get you right - you underestimate the American people and there services in this world believing only in governmental control - We would be far better off being of service to one another than to any rules of our out of control government - example privet U.P.S company is far greater and efficient than the post office

Our nation was built on Independence not governmental socialism !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be of service don't go looking for it.

[nikkyo34]

The Cause of the Financial Crisis- Government Meddling

A panel discussion featuring John Allison and Yaron Brook

New York, New York

September 14, 2009

[ltlillil]

Let's follow ths guy's philosophy to its natural conclusion: no police, no fire department, no public education, no FDIC, no SEC, no army, no Center for Disease Control.

What a bunch of crap Allison spews.

[ErikNikolai]

@ltlillil You are strongly mistaken, and I would advise you not to jump to conclusions without doing any research. If you are interested in correcting your conclusion, google "principles of a free society".

[JMartins1981]

John A. Allison -- the Chuck Norris of Objectivism. :-) A very admirable man.

[beancube2008]

If someone dares to break the chain of media when troops were to Iraq, our economy won't be corrupted to the current state that conscience doesn't worth a dime. You deserve it, United States of America. Another example is our churches where I seldom heard any priest protest against innocent death caused by massive invasion a cross the globe.

[WolYou]

We don't need leaders. We don't need big companies. They are good for nothing. They are making us slaves. Values are my personal matter. Each human being has his own values.

[beancube2008]

Black or white logics/morals are outdated. They imposing biases and blocking layered thought process to understand or consult events. Leaderships allows only picking sides instead of proportionality of alternatives.

[87176246]

You should listen to John Allison's speech again. You will surely discover that he is speaking in the name of independence, and against slavery. There is a lot of bullshit out there and it is no wonder you don't want to hear anyone speak of values, but the values John Allison are very important if you are interested in bettering your life. You should obviously choose your own values, but you could get a head start by listening to people wiser than yourself.

[deinse81]

Yes we do have our own values. And if you don't wish to deal with big companies, you are free to live without them.

But when your values involve tearing down someone else's values (somoene else's business for instance), then our values clash: you are evil, and I am good. There's nothing gray about that. But beyond that, as long as you leave me be, you are free to choose your own values, or have no values at all: just don't come to me begging for welfare. Live, and die, by your own values.

[87176246]

John Allison, you are very courageous. It takes a lot of guts to say what you say and practice what you say. I am inspired by your words and appreciate your time. Thank you for sharing your ideas with me. I am on your side and I'd be pleased to have the honor of mopping the floors of BB&T. What an inspiring place!

Does anyone know where I can find Mr. Allison's recent Duke speech. I'd love hear is opinions about the bailouts, and his own role in the process.

[ArrogantEgoist]

I agree.

And listen to what he says at 1:07-1:08--as someone else mentioned, he's such an incredible contrast to today's short-range-perspective, pragmatic business leaders!

[SaracenWarrior]

He seems to have an Athiest/Secularist philosophy and is a supporter of The Ayn Rand Institute, which hates Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

[HorrorClaus]

The Ayn Rand Institute doesn't hate any religion. Just because they few it as irrational behavior doesn't mean that they hate it.

[Sarrisan98]

@ Saracenwarrior

Actually, Objectivists in general have a very positive view of Judaism. While it is an atheist philosophy and highly disapproves of any religious thought at all, most Objectivists (That I know of, at least) have a respect for the strong tradition of literacy among the Jewish people. If you have to live with a religion, you can go *far* worse than Judaism.

[Aynology]

An enlightening recruitment presentation - thanx-MrDardenMBA.

One unfortunate slip-up occurs however @ 54':05" MrAllison says: "...they did that to BillGates(gov't-ball-and-chain­) and he went on strike."

This corrollary to AynRand's AtlasShrugged is misIntegrated. BillGates did not 'strike' as a KenDannager-type;

rather, he 'folded' à la DanConway - with Lillian(Melinda)Rearden in a supporting role. Subsequently, pouring all his 'guilty' wealth into a 'futile'funnel (HoptonStoddard)

(A $ A)

[grantsinmypants2]

What a great guy! It's too bad that he's retiring. I've noticed that BB&T has recently replaced the exhaustive explanation of the organization's philosophy with a pared down, more colloquialism-rich version of it. I also read an article about the incoming CEO which included some quotes which I found bothersome. Definitely a difference in tone from Mr. Allison.

I've been an account holder for four years. I hope that this isn't a portent of things to come.

[legendre007]

"I've noticed that BB&T has recently replaced the exhaustive explanation of the organization's philosophy with a pared down, more colloquialism-rich version of it. I also read an article about the incoming CEO which included some quotes which I found bothersome. Definitely a difference in tone from Mr. Allison."

Oh, dear. That sounds like Hugh Akston leaving his post as the chairman of Patrick Henry University's philosophy department, only to be replaced by Dr. Simon Pritchett. :-(

[87176246]

I'm not an account holder at BB&T so I have a bias, but I am super excited about John Allison's retirement. I heard he plans to enter the media and politics. I seriously think he can have huge impact given his record of achievement. Anyway, I look forward to hearing more from him.

[grantsinmypants2]

Gotta love the old "Rearden vs. D'Anconia" dilemma.

[Beethovens7th]

Awesome video.

[legendre007]

"Awesome video."

Awesome review of the video. ;-)

[qtronman]

Mr. Allison is (or should be) an integrated, philosophic inspiration to the vast ballast of pragmatic executives in corporate America today that ignore philosophy at their own peril.

[legendre007]

Beautiful! :-D

[legendre007]

My favorite part begins at the 0:42:00 mark. :-)

[MrCropper]

I love his definition of selfishness: "rational, long-term self interest," at the 42:00 mark.

[WarVideo]

Great presentation! I'll recommend to other people.