John Galt—now, there’s a name every business man should know. So, who the heck is he?
I went to see “Atlas Shrugged,” a film based on a novel by controversial American author, Ayn Rand, a few years ago. Atlas Shrugged, written in 1957, about the same time I was watching horse operas like “Gunsmoke” and “Maverick”.
Moreover, decked out in my make-believe Stetson and two-gun holsters just like Roy Rogers was my then favorite cowboy hero, I thought I was something!
I was eight, and becoming anything OTHER than a white-hat-wearing GOOD GUY like that was not on my radar.
I was certainly not interested then in becoming a “greedy old business owner” with dreams of making an ACTUAL (or as Rush Limbaugh quips, “obscene”) PROFIT!
Prior to seeing the film, I had never heard of Ayn Rand or her books, and knew nothing of her business or political philosophy. Later, watching an interview she did with Phil Donahue, I could appreciate her stand on Capitalism, however not some of her personal philosophy.
Atlas Shrugged Meaning?
In the book, the conversation between Mr Rearden and Fransisco D’Anconia probably gives the best explanation. “If you saw Atlas, the giant who holds the world on his shoulders, if you saw that he stood, blood running down his chest, his knees buckling, his arms trembling, but still trying to hold the world aloft with the last of his strength, and the greater his effort the heavier the world bore down upon his shoulders, what would you tell him to do?” “I don’t know,” replied D’Anconia. “What could he do? What would you tell him?”
“To shrug,” said Mr. Rearden.
For me, watching that first installment of the film version of her book, “Atlas Shrugged” film trilogy was exhilarating. I GOT IT! In fact, I could relate to Rand’s main character, John Galt, although on a bit smaller scale.
Time eventually caused me to retire those old cowboy boots—the ones my mother said looked “just fine” with my usual short pants (embarrassing for a serious cowboy!). I had gone on to bigger boots, just right for a wannabe rock star for about twenty years. Some years later, boots finally on the ground, I had exchanged my microphone for a slightly used printing press and the keys to my very first business. Something I could really hang my hat on! And, believe it or not, there was not a greedy motive in my head!
So, who is this John Galt?
In Rand’s fiction book, Galt is a faceless character, ever in the shadows. Chapter after chapter, Galt introduces himself, one at a time, to some of the most successful heads of industry. Consequently, each of them mysteriously disappears. As these powerful, high-earning business owners (aka Job Providers) seem to vanish from the face of the earth, industry suffers. Banks close, stocks crash, jobs are scarce, people panic, and society falls more and more into chaos.
By the third film in the trilogy, we learn that John Galt is a highly successful entrepreneur. He had invented a game-changing machine pirated by a competing industry connected with corrupt public officials. Government had set strangling regulations and standards to take control of Galt’s invention.
Galt’s Tool, demonized even criminalized by factions whose lying propaganda had convinced the general-public otherwise even though built for the greater good. According to those factions, all the “John Galt’s” (the small-to-large business owners of the world) were only after the almighty dollar. Government officials worked to convince the unknowing public that business owners’ “greed” needed shut down. Moreover, that Galt’s and others’ work needed to be heavily taxed, monitored and restricted; if not, taken over completely by government.
No matter, of course, that those so-called “greedy” private owners provided the masses with 80-90% of the nations’ paychecks. These employers’ work had afforded people homes, cars, food, energy, heating and A/C, cell phones and other technology, vacations, hospitals, medicines, furniture, trains, planes, boats, music, movies, plays, books, sports and other entertainment. Not to mention, thousands of restaurants, and shopping outlets of every imaginable type. Also, countless products for their comfort and pleasure!
Business Owners are Risk-Takers and Givers
So, WHO were those who risked “their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor” (as Thomas Jefferson had said)? WHO put more on the line than most others did in our society, in order to build businesses? Yes, they were eager to pursue their dreams, and thereby make it possible for others to pursue theirs!
WHO were the ones who had underwritten so many great libraries, schools, hospitals and universities? Industries like theirs had also provided for higher education that allowed many more to own their own businesses?
But, WHO were the ones that employees and others blamed when the government took more out of their paychecks than anticipated?
Big government prompted those economic upheavals that caused employers to have to lay off workers who needed those jobs!
Do you know a “John Galt”?
YOU KNOW THEM! They’re the ones many current television shows, movies, and the “PC” crowd like to characterize as “greedy and underhanded.” They believe these same employers “can’t be trusted to give workers a fair wage” or a clean work environment.
With over 20 million small businesses in our country, there are some who would have you believe, most of them are pirates? Yet these same people will tell you grand things about our public institutions; that their operations are above reproach. Surely, they believe, government workers (i.e. “public servants”) are more trustworthy; fairer than owners in the private sector.
NOTE: Many so-called “public servants” are not accountable for poor performances, much less fired. Thinking now of the Veterans Administration, of late! However, at this update writing that is changing. Thank to Mr. T.
Time to ask ourselves… Why would we want to put over 20 million businesses, or any of our American workforce, in the hands of government officials? Most of those officials have never owned or operated a business, nor held a job outside of government. Think of a business owner placing a want ad for a general manager of a specific industry. Then, after receiving applications from many qualified persons with knowledge and working experience of that industry, the owner decides to hire someone with absolutely NO knowledge of their business, to run the whole thing.
Now, who would make a decision like that? Sound at all familiar?
True John Galt’s are all about Systematization
Systematization improves the quality of production output, controls waste, and allows for continual improvement
Over the past 20-plus years, I have been writing and implementing business processes/systems with unique software. It’s my hope to help companies reduce waste of all kinds, to make businesses stronger. Of course, that will increase a business’ chances of being around for years to come and hiring many in the meantime.
This is a daunting and often tedious task for many business owners and entrepreneurs. The process of continual improvement—day in, day out, year in and year out—takes a lot of energy. It also takes uncompromising commitment and, may I add, no little amount of faith to keep going.
Yet, I’ve seen others—fairly (if ignorantly, it seems)—elected by the majority, who willingly ignore or disregard the kind of systems that could improve our public institutions. These are ones we pay dearly for, that have shown a high rate of waste.
In some quarters, if a public official lets it be known things are improving, and they are cutting waste with systemization and more accountability, their peers would cry foul and take steps to remove them. They would demand that the “right” people should maintain the “status quo” (uh…disorder? waste? mediocrity?), to which we the public have sadly become accustomed.
Are the John Galt’s all Good Guys?
He’s a guy—a hero, I’d say—who might represent honest business owners everywhere. He’s had it with those who, professing wisdom, have become fools. He’s done with those who think tearing down the very freedom-loving institutions that have employed the masses since the founding of our country, will somehow improve things.
Folks, look at the unemployment rate in our country today! Look at the number of small businesses that have closed their doors in recent years. Many have lost the ability to hire, give raises, or retool—all because “profit” has become a twisted catchword for greed!
So, are all private business owners devoid of personal imperfections? Surely not yours truly!
But, good, bad or otherwise, the “John Galt’s” of the world will not just vanish, because of negative others! Through their tireless efforts to pursue their dreams, own their own business, feed their families, they will employ others so they have a chance to do the same. The “John Galt’s” of the world have created more wealth for the common person than they’re ever given credit for. Only in a free society that rewards hard work and achievement would a John Galt even DARE!
Some old adages about, “not biting the hand that feeds” or “putting the fox in charge of the hen house,” might be worth revisiting!
Russian-born author, Ayn Rand (1905-1982)
Ayn Rand expressed her life beliefs in both of her most well-read books, Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, when she wrote: “My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.”
I couldn’t agree with much of Ms. Rand’s own PERSONAL belief system. However, regarding this thing called CAPITALISM—I’m convinced she got that RIGHT!
Capitalism is not perfect, but (short of heaven) it’s proved the best system on earth for allowing free people to live and remain free!
Did I mention? Great System Work!
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