As I meet with business people all over, a common myth in business circles is that only the crooks get to be well off.
What do you think about that? Have you also been tempted to think that especially when it appears that you seem to be banging your head up against one obstacle after another as you pursue your dreams?
Sometimes the thought is a little bit more subtle and you’ll hear people say things like, “Well, business is business!” as if to infer that BECAUSE it’s BUSINESS there is a different (read “more fluid, flexible, amoral”) approach that is acceptable in the almighty pursuit of the profit dollar.
Well, maybe you will find this confronting, but I strongly and wholeheartedly disagree.
And it’s not because I’m a saint [although one admirer did comment on my halo recently (joke)]
No, I have a far more pragmatic reason for disagreeing.
You see, your integrity is to be valued and protected above all things.
The good book puts it this way,
“The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them” Proverbs 11:3
I submit to you that a person who operates their life and business with integrity operates with wisdom, and you may be surprised to know that the good book has a bunch to say about wisdom.
In particular it says very clearly that:
“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who finds understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those that take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.” (Proverbs 4:13-18)
Well, you know Paul, I hear you say, what does all this have to do with my life and business. I thought you were a professional business growth specialist. I did not expect to be hearing a sermon!
And that may be just part of your issue.
You may be looking for answers in all the wrong places.
You see integrity and wisdom are foundational building blocks that are essential to the strong and sustainable growth and longevity of your business. Without them, the time will come when your business endeavours will topple because the foundation is not secure.
So in case you missed it - integrity and wisdom bring with them, long life, wealth and honour, peace and pleasantness.
Sounds like a good deal to me and it tells me that integrity and profit are NOT in competition after all.
Ok I get it, Paul …
But what’s the big deal; I already operate with integrity.
Well, if you do that’s great, keep it up.
And for those of you who are not sure let me add some practical legs to all this talk of integrity and what it means day to day.
Why not read the following selection of statements and see how you get on
1. I promptly deliver the goods and services promised to my customers.
2. I only ever charge my customers for the work actually done.
3. I have been known to invoice my customers for “X” hours of work when we actually only did “Y” hours of work (where “Y” is less than “X”)
4. I never substitute inferior quality parts on a job while invoicing the customer for the higher quality part.
5. I am always ‘fashionably’ late for meetings and appointments with customers, suppliers, staff and family alike and sometimes I don’t even show up.
6. My word is my bond.
7. I always look for loopholes in the fine print of contracts.
8. I always look for ways to do more with less even if this means taking shortcuts.
9. I live like the devil during the week and then go to church on Sundays.
10. Is ok to “look but not touch” when it comes to people of the opposite sex.
11. I take longer lunch breaks than I declare to my employer.
12. I idly watch and do nothing or (worse still) participate in the culture of ‘borrowing’ (stealing) equipment and tools from the work/factory/building site.
And I could go on …
In fact you could add your own list of additional questions relative to your particular situation.
So -
How’d you get on?
Are we still confident that you operate with integrity in your dealings?
I hope so.
But the sad reality is that we live in a world that does not believe in absolutes. So what’s right for you may be wrong for me, but that’s ok (says society).
Well I’m sorry, actually it’s not ok and neither does it make any logical sense.
Let me illustrate -
Imagine Person A believes it’s ok to scam everyone; while Person B thinks it’s not OK and in fact thinks person A should go to jail.
Clearly Person A and Person B’s perspective on the world are poles apart.
Because they are poles apart it is impossible for them both to be (morally) right.
Only one position can be morally right.
In this simplistic example which one did you pick?
This illustrates that ABSOLUTES are a necessity.
They may not be popular (especially in our hedonistic and litigious society) but they are very important to quality of life.
Still not convinced.
In our example above substitute ‘scamming’ with ‘rape, pillage and murder’ and then ask yourself the question again.
You see the good book’s 10 Commandments weren’t named the 10 Suggestions or the 10 Optional Extras. They are the 10 Commandments for a genuine reason.
God is interested in us having the highest quality of life possible and He knew that certain behaviours worked contrary to us achieving our desired objective.
In fact in terms of integrity God showed the way.
Titus 1:2 says “…God who cannot lie….”
And
Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent (change his mind)…”
So if someone has let you down or acted in a way that is less than a standard of excellence and integrity it’s good to know that God does see and know and He will balance the ledger.
I want to encourage you to keep on doing ‘the right thing’ even in the face of adversity.
The point of this week’s article is to challenge you to take a close look at what you are doing and to also realise God is keenly interested in how you run your business affairs and, yes, He wants you to prosper. (It’s not about being a wowser that’s for sure.)
……but to do so justly.
This is a huge topic but if you’re up for it I challenge you to do some research of your own. As you dig and take off your “religious reading glasses” God will get your attention big time. He is into business in a big way and has a lot to say about money, finances and prosperity.
Finally, I always like to hear stories and right now I am seeking (true) stories from business people of situations and events where they have had a choice to make – operate with integrity (even if it is going to cost me) – or not operate with integrity.
If you have something you’d like to share, please email me direct paul@rightteam.com.au
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