“It’s Not Personal. It’s Just Business.”
“It’s Not Personal. It’s Just Business.”
This statement has been part of our zeitgeist since 1972, when Michael Corleone famously said in The Godfather:
“It’s not personal, Sonny. It’s strictly business.”
That line became the classic rationalization for ruthless or morally questionable decisions in business and politics.
A convenient shield for behavior that prioritizes profit over people & greed over generosity.
But in a small community like ours, this posture carries a heavy cost. It creates:
Erosion of trust
A breakdown of accountability
Loss of reciprocity and generosity
Economic hollowing
Emotional & cultural disconnection
When we say “It’s just business,” we strip away the relational aspect of life. We becomes soul-less.
“Don’t take it personally” severs the emotional ties that make a community worth living in.
“That’s the cost of doing business” becomes shorthand for extraction without reinvestment, leaving our towns hollowed out.
“Just the bottom line” takes generosity out of the equation, shrinking community pride and discouraging reciprocity.
Business is never just business. It’s always personal, because people live with the consequences.
