NEW JERSEY, January 21, 2002: Celebrating Martin Luther King's birthday, we look at a concept that has been largely ignored in the annals of corporate philosophy -- yet it has been a driving force behind many successful companies and individuals: Love.

The Dream

Dr King's teachings about harmony, racial equality, and cooperation were perhaps the most passionate and eloquent expressions of the the need for love in civilized society. In a world shaken by violence and war, Dr King's concepts hold added value and significance today.

But when one speaks about ;ove and business, the two don't mix. Business is all about dog eat dog, everyone for himself, keep your friends close and enemies closer. The concept of love has no place, right?

Love and Business

Not so, says Yahoo executive Tim Sanders. Former executive at Broadcast.com, and ex-colleague of web entrepreneur Mark Cuban, Sanders claims that love is the secret of success in today's rapidly changing world of business. Basically, Sanders beleives that love "will help your company grow and become stronger. It's what will propel your career forward. It's what will give you a sense of meaning and satisfaction in your work, which will help you do your best work."

No Love Lost

Why is it that love is all you need? Because the business world is filled with choices -- it doesn't have to put up with equipment that doesn't work, service that doesn't delight, and people who don't command respect. Ever hear of the phrase, no love lost? That phrase applies to the departure of an employee or supervisor.

CC: Everybody

And if you think about it, can one afford to be a lousy person to work with now that we have electronic word of mouth? Fact is, people have more vehicles than ever for communicating who's nice and who isn't. Don't think jokes are the only thing flying around the email server. Cherish your reputation -- it pays to be nice.

Love = Leadership

What about nice guys finishing last, you argue. Nice guys stick around, contends Sanders. They share knowledge, build trust, and are seen as leaders in a company. They also attract and keep talented employees. The exact opposite is true of the nasty guys.

Sanders quotes philosopher Milton Meyerhoff's definition of love: "The selfless promotion of the growth of the other." His own definition: "Love is the act of intelligently and sensibly sharing your knowledge, networks, and compassion with your business partners."

To Sanders, playing nice in the sandbox is not a short term meeting strategy, but a smart way to drive your career. Because when you are a knowledge guru, and you share your knowledge as openly as possible, you build trust in your "brand identity" and collect contacts who rely on your expertise -- a network of colleague who know you and want to do business with you.

To read more about Sanders, and his point of view, go to FastCompany.com, or click here.

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