Good morning all and I trust you are all ready, willing and excited for a new month. February is here and can be the best month of the year.
I thought this was an interesting story regarding our Culture and the principle of being honest and maintaining integrity.
“While working in the corporate world, some business associates and I were passing through O-Hare Airport in Chicago. One of these men had just sold his company for tens of millions of dollars–in other words, he was not poor.”
“As we were passing a newspaper vending machine, this individual put a quarter in the machine, opened the door to the stack of papers inside the machine, and began dispensing unpaid-for newspapers to each of us.”
“When he handed me a newspaper, I put a quarter in the machine and, trying not to offend but to make a point, jokingly said, ‘Jim, for 25 cents I can maintain my integrity. A dollar, questionable, but 25 cents–no not 25 cents!'”
Your character cannot be limited to the size of the amount. The principle of honesty and integrity is constant whether it involves a penny or millions of dollars. How much would it take to test your character?
The impact of being true to character is enormous! Consider the example above, do you think the colleagues of this honest individual respected him more or less after this incident?
In my experience, these individuals–those who are true to character, honest with integrity–are often those that quickly move up in life and achieve success more rapidly! They are generally more trusted and respected by those around them.
Learn this saying: “Winners never cheat and cheaters never win!”
By choosing ethics over convenience, truth over popularity, and right over wrong you can experience greater satisfaction in life and be an influence of good.
Have a great day and do a lot of GOOD today.
Thanks for all you do for the YAG.
sysr
Awesome reflection. Thank you.
This reminds me of the suckers that are on my desk. They are 50 cents each. I see many people take the suckers without paying for them… because they’re “just 50 cents”. I can’t take one without paying the 50 cents because I feel bad! Like the story says, whether it be a penny or millions, it comes down to honesty! Thanks for this!
This is a great story and reminder. Thank you Spencer.
In my opinion there are few things we can truly control. Integrity-honesty is one of those. I want to be able to have all the control over my life I can.