Why Philosophy for Business: Treatment for Corporate Illnesses The difference between good performers and outstanding performers in the business world or in any organization is that they are living out a great dream for all their stakeholders. And they have enormous intellectual freedom and creativity informed by integrity and wisdom. These competencies create all the other things that we typically focus on such as competitive advantage, a strong brand, motivated and competent people, innovative products, high productivity and all the rest. The five corporate illnesses I see most often that eat away from this profile and the practice of strategic foresight follow. Each in its own way dims the light within. • Teleopathy: Goal sickness, losing sight of ethics and integrity, results from inner and outer pressures to achieve at all costs (a term coined by Professor Kenneth Goodpaster) • Psychosclerosis: hardening of attitudes, rejection of new ideas; results from over-reliance on the one proven way or too much success • Sisphysus Syndrome: the increased risk of sudden death on the job; results from increased stress but a reduced degree of control over the job tasks except to go faster (The #1 predictor of heart attacks is job dissatisfaction.) • Degenerative Blindspots: incomplete and inaccurate seeing of the whole picture; results from invisible beliefs circulating within individuals and organizations • Advanced Motion Sickness: rapid spin, breathing one's own exhaust; results from accelerated movement that prevents reflection and large scale foresight • Congestion: mixed signals from one or more leaders that makes implementation or change ineffective or slow; results from inconsistent or conflicting messages within the leader or executive leadership group