Care and Trust as Enterprise Values
By Ramasubramanian O.B.
Summary
RAMASUBRAMANIAN O.B. B, managing a small soap-making unit in his native town, transitioned from pursuing an IT career to teaching and mentoring school children and teachers while living in a joint family. Facing financial challenges, he turned to handmade soap production to sustain his family. Committed to ethical practices, B initially struggled with bulk production due to his refusal to use excessive chemicals. After researching chemical-free methods, he created soaps with minimal lather, which, despite initial customer resistance, gained regular buyers once the quality and reasoning were communicated. Another challenge was packaging, leading him to collaborate with a youth researching non-plastic materials, resulting in eco-friendly wrappers. Pricing proved difficult, as B relied on friends and relatives for word-of-mouth marketing and let them suggest prices based on his costs, often resulting in higher-than-expected payments. B’s approach, rooted in care, trust, and quality, defies conventional pricing strategies, emphasizing faith in people’s generosity and welfare. His success, though local, reflects the integrity and sincerity highlighted by Swami Vivekananda’s teachings, underscoring how ethical values can drive entrepreneurial achievement.
Conclusion
Care and trust, as demonstrated by B’s enterprise, redefine success beyond profit, emphasizing ethical integrity and community-centric values. By prioritizing chemical-free production, sustainable packaging, and fair pricing, B’s approach challenges conventional business norms, proving that transparency and quality can foster customer loyalty and generosity. His venture, though small-scale, highlights how trust in human goodness and environmental responsibility can create meaningful economic impact. B’s story embodies Swami Vivekananda’s principle that sincerity and integrity drive lasting success, offering a model for enterprises to harmonize profit with purpose and planetary well-being.