A discussion about business ethics, character traits, integrity, and values

I just watched a documentary called Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure, "the greatest survival story of all time." Wow! The series of unfortunate events Shackleton and his men endured is so hard to believe it seems made up, more Rob Reiner than actual documentary.

The crew left London in 1914, intending to cross the Antarctic, but their ship was frozen then crushed by pack ice. They spent 22 months in that bitter cold and hostile environment, and were finally rescued after heroic efforts by Shackleton.

But what impresses me about the story is that Shackleton realized that whatever other dangers the group faced, his great challenge would be to maintain the moral of the men. He kept them busy so they couldn’t sit around feeling sorry for themselves. He made them laugh, he danced with them, he gave whatever he had to keep them content in terrible circumstances. He led them without fear, and never asked them to do anything he did not do himself. He set a goal that not one of them would die, and they all survived.

Here’s a more complete biography of Ernest Shackleton.