Got Character?
Recently I was chatting with a group of business professionals and entrepreneurs. I was listening to one group talk about their business and how their economic strength had been challenged. One of the individuals, Bob, began to reflect on how bad life had been for him. He began to discuss his losses and how his life had been turned upside down. He went on to reveal his strategy to making and keeping money. Let me tell you, his methods were unprincipled at best. Another business owner, Jan chimed in saying she needed to be better about reporting to the IRS.
It was at this time that I began to think about the many fraudulent corporate scandals plaguing our news headlines. We’ve learned so much about many of our corporate leaders who seemed to selfishly endanger the financial well-being of their clients, co-workers, employees, shareholders and everyone else depending on their perceived “brilliant” leadership skills.
As I turned my ear back to the conversations, it was then that Bob said to Jan “never report everything to the IRS. You accept cash payments; just don’t report the cash payments and the IRS will never know. It is your money and who is going to know. Jan there is no way cash payments can be verified? He said listen to me, I have been doing it for years and nothing has happened to me yet.”
At the risk of sounding self-righteous, I began to think… this is how it starts- unethical business practices. Some believe it is okay to do it because they have never been caught. What this man failed to realize is that people were listening and potential customers were taking it all in. I have found that when a person is prepared to make significant compromises in one area of their life, it will usually show up in other areas of life. As a result of Bob deciding to announce his profound, but twisted, wisdom to anyone who could hear, he lost customers and was so distracted that he didn’t even know. His comments also made his customers question what other unethical practices might Bob be involved in. I firmly believe that you will eventually reap what you sow.
Another disappointing factor to me is that this man never made the connection that his decision to constantly “beat the system” may have been the very reason for his lack. Now, I am not necessarily suggesting all his struggles were a direct result of Bob making a conscience decision to do the wrong thing. We all make mistakes, poor decisions, bad judgment calls and so on. The fact is, there are consequences for them all. What I am saying however, is that Bob refused to reconsider this behavior and gave no thought to his words. Bob is very skilled at what he does. Skill may take you higher but it is your character that will keep you there.
I heard a great leader say something I’d like to share with you. I am paraphrasing but you will get the point.
“Change your words, then you change your thinking, change your thinking, then you change your emotions, change your emotions and you change your decisions, change your decisions and you change your actions, change your actions and you change your habits, change your habits and you change your character, change your character then you change your life.”
I am interested in your ethics policy and your thoughts on ethics in general. Sharing information is powerful!
~Paula
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