What is more important than being honest? Honestly?
An honest man is a natural leader. People trust him, they know where he stands, and that trust creates a bond. This bond enhances loyalty.
At home stay completly honest with your wife, children, neighbors, and friends.
At work be completly honest with your patients, your employees, vendors, and everyone that you come into contact with.
Sports, activities, church, hobbies, volunteering, and anything else you do, tell the truth. Be honest!
Sometimes he will spot me walking into a store or just driving down the road. If I answered back untruthfully he would know in a second. Even if i thought to myself I don't want to be obligated to do something right now and responded with a little white lie, or maybe I just think it's nobody's business so respond in generalities, shame on me.
Now he wonders if I would lie about something as silly as my location at the moment, would I be truthful about big things?
My reputation as well as my friendship would be on the line with my best friend.
In business if you try to lie about something to make more profit you will be exposed at some point. You will loose your good reputation and good clients.
It is painstakingly slow and laborious to build a strong reputation. It can take only a few minutes to ruin it.
Years ago, two brothers ages 14 & 11 were watching the weekly jackpot at the arena one half of a mile from their home.
It was a small town and everyone knew everyone.
The jackpot was a simple contest between cowboys in the area. They would each put in money on their events. Then they would compete for the jack pot.
The brothers would walk around and talk to the cowboys and sometimes help with some events.
It was a summer night and getting close to midnight as the cowboys were finishing up. The brothers headed home walking in the dark. Suddenly a pick up truck pulled up behind them. The man driving was a little drunk and very mad. He began yelling at the boys for opening his gates and letting his cows out. He was mad because it took him hours to get the cows back in their corral. He was furious that two no account boys would show so little responsibility and be so mean, showing a high level of disrespect to him personally.
The brothers were surprised when he started yelling because they thought he was just going to pull up and have a neighborly conversation. When he begin swearing and accusing, they both started to run in the direction of their home. He started his truck up and stayed right behind them, so they cut through the rocks and sagebrush on a shortcut home. As they went over a hill the headlights from the truck disappeared. Although they could not see him they were sure he was headed to their home. They arrived out of breath and ran into the house to find their dad. He was sitting in his easy chair reading a book. He looked up, alarmed as the boys came rushing in. They said that a guy in a pickup truck (they were pretty sure his name was Lee) was very very upset with them and was following them home. So the dad got up and walked outside just as Lee pulled up. He started yelling saying those boys need to be punished. They opened my gate and let all of my cattle out. It has taken me over an hour to put them all back in. He knew it was these two brothers because he saw them out by his Corral. And when he ask them about it they just took off running. He was absolutely positive that those two brothers were guilty. The dad looked at him and then he looked at his sons. He asked them if they had been over to Lee's Corrals and if they opened that gate and let the cattle out. He watched carefully as they answered. They said no, we were not anywhere near his Corrales. We would never open a gate and let cattle out and we sure did not do that tonight. The dad asked where the boys had been. They said they had been up at the arena watching the jackpot Ropers and Cowboys. The dad turned to Lee in his truck and said they did not open your gate and let your cattle out. In fact they were not anywhere near your corrals. So you need to turn around and leave now, and I will forget you ever came over here.
You can bet those brothers were highly relieved that their father believed what they said. They were also glad that they had dealt honestly and been truthful with their parents all of the time. Their father trusted them over anything else or anyone else. That kind of trust is priceless.
I hope we are all building that kind of trust at home and in our business life. That reputation is worth more than gold.
http://riversideds.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Old-Logo.png 0 0 Scott Emett http://riversideds.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Old-Logo.png Scott Emett2016-05-29 03:52:382016-10-26 02:59:14Honestly?