Shawn Vij

This document summarizes an interview between Brian Rose and Shawn Vij on the London Real podcast from July 10, 2017. It discusses how many movies portray ambitious business protagonists losing their morals to succeed, and how the interview was refreshing because Shawn Vij believes capitalism and compassion can coexist. Both Vij and Rose left high-paying jobs to pursue more purpose-driven work through writing and podcasting. The document discusses how the speaker's upbringing focusing on honesty, integrity and fairness has shaped his view that taking advantage of others for success feels wrong. It highlights Vij's meeting with the Dalai Lama as an example of moral fiber in action.

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Shawn Vij

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Jan Gelera

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Shawn Vij

Moral Fiber
London Real Interview
July 10. 2017

The business world never appealed to me. I don’t find it a noble career path. I remember
watching movies like Citizen Kane, The Firm, Goodfellas, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,
Boiler Room, The Devil Wears Prada, The Big Short, Wolf of Wall Street, etc. and they all have a
common plot of at first we have an honest, hardworking yet ambitious protagonist then on the
climb to reach the top he or she loses their morals. The movies seem to romanticize unethical
practices that makes it appealing to viewers. As for me those movies are entertaining but not a
way of life. In a way early on I realized that the business world is ruthless and the saying, “It’s
business, nothing more”, is probably the most insensitive statement and is just plain “jerk”
move. Well now, I had exposed my low opinion about the corporate world that’s why it was
such a “breath of fresh air” when watched the “Moral Fiber” interview. In here, a successful
entrepreneur, Shawn Vij has different and refreshing point of view about the business world.
Wherein, he has this idea that capitalism and compassion can actually co-exist. It sounds
utopian to me but this idea could really work. I was even more fascinated by how he and Brian
Rose turned out to be so much alike in terms of the career path they are taking right now. Both
left their high paying jobs and started to do something that would make their existence of use
or of service to others. For Brian Rose it was London Real and for Shawn Vij it was writing a
book about moral fiber in the corporate setting. Even as 19-year old’s, they went into same
internship program at Ford, Michigan and somehow they had this clear vision at what they
wanted to become in the future. The driving force here was immense success which means lots
of money. Initially according to them this is what that really matter or this could bring them
happiness and success. It did happen but along the way when success was finally in their grasp
they started to question if its worth it. Now, here I have to admit I never viewed them as whiny
and ungrateful snobs but I actually genuinely took pity of what they must have gone through in
exchange for that success. According to them the path of their success was at a expense of
somebody else’s happiness, financial security or way of life or career. If I could do this to
someone else it would really bother me “big time”. I won’t be at peace. Now, why would I feel
this way? I think it has something to do with my upbringing. My family is stickler for honesty,
integrity and fairness. I could cite numerous examples wherein my grandfather and my parents
have the opportunity to go ahead and be rich or recognized/revered yet did not take that
advantage because of “fairness”. They don’t want to be seen as what we call here “walang
delikadesa”. So as I grew up even though there are times that I could see an easy and fast path
to success or have an opportunity to go ahead but to do this I could deny another of the same
opportunity, it just doesn’t feel right so I usually do not take the easy path. This is what Shawn
Vij was trying to say, that it doesn’t take rocket science to determine if something is not right
but the most important part here is acting on that belief or value. You may know that cheating
is not right but you allowed your friends to do it anyway. It’s like turning a blind eye to what
was actually happening. You may say that you are absolved of this because you didn’t cheat
but then again by not doing anything you became part of the problem and may have have
contributed to this dishonest action. So moral fiber is not only knowing your values but acting
on them as well. There are many interesting exchanges in the interview but I like to single out
his meeting with the Dalai Lama. For me this story is just fantastic. Here he was at the stage of
his life of great transformation spiritually and he really wants to meet the Dalai Lama however
it’s just not possible. But the events leading him to meeting the Dalai Lama is what I call pre-
ordained or fate or to put it more dramatically in the words of Paullo Coello in the book The
Alchemist, “the universe conspired to make the meeting happen”. Overall, I am glad that in
todays fast paced, insensitive, reckless society norms, there are people who genuinely wants to
make the world a better place

This has something to do with my upbringing which I think is the major factor This could be
explained by their culture or their upbringing whereas Mr. Vij grew up poor that’s why he was
motivated to succeed while Mr. Rose motivation was in his family success means having more
money.