Running a business in a free market, capitalist economy must be a for-profit venture or it will be lame and fail. A charity, on the other hand, is not for profit.
To push innovation and efficiency in your business to make as much profit as possible is moral, legal and necessary because that keeps you and your family “in business” and improves the economy overall, which also improves the overall health and well-being of society. Given the above, your only objective should be to maximize your financial returns diligently.
With the profits that you can make from such a straightforward business approach, you will benefit “the State” via taxes. Then with whatever sums remain, you can buy the material items you desire, and you can give generously to charity.
When you find you can free up some of your time, you can work on nonprofit endeavors, which is ultimately for the benefit of your family and our broader society. As a side effect, this is also good public relations for your business, which helps in creating a virtuous cycle.
Keep in mind, we are not suggesting that you give away all of your time and money to charity. Instead, you should use a generous portion on the activities you feel passionate about: for example, tutoring disadvantaged children from your community, managing a charity event for a disease that afflicts your family, building a charity web site, lobbying congress for disease research funding, or feeding disaster victims in Africa. The opportunities are personal and without limitation.
To create passion for something of great significance in this world is vital for everyone, but it does not make sense for others to direct your altruistic activities. Once you are wealthy, you get to decide how to proceed like a compassionate member of your business community—a leader who cares. Nobody should restrict anything, nor should he want to. Earn plenty of money; buy whatever you feel you need for your family; and then serve your favorite causes. In effect, this creates a win-win-win situation.
