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To Tell the Truth
You succeed with you operate with honesty.
For example, you exaggerate a customer's problem so you can charge him more. This increases your income, but causes you problems. The customer can sense the lie, no matter how sincere you act. If you are caught, the penalties are painful.
On the other hand, if you understate the customer's problem, you are selling out what you know to be true. You prevent your customer from making the proper decisions. You feel like a wimp.
The only solution is to look your customer in the eye, without hesitation, and tell the truth. The customer can then act accordingly. You do your job, even if you don't make as much money and even if the person doesn't like the truth.
When you have the courage to call the truth the truth you become a powerful force. It is easy to hold a position on an honest fact.
For example, your software adds numbers incorrectly. You call the software technician who looks it over. He says, "the problem is the user; the software is fine." You pull out a calculator and prove the computer's answer is wrong.
Because you know the truth, you refuse to agree with the technician. No matter how smart the expert is, or how inexperienced the user is, you KNOW the figures do not add up. You have personal integrity.
The same idea applies to your family, spouse and friends. You agree or disagree based on what you know to be true, not on what THEY want you to say or believe.
Integrity
Integrity means you are honest, complete, honorable. It means you hold to your personal code of conduct. You stick to what you decide is right and wrong.
When you live with integrity, you succeed. You are open and honest. Your life is uncomplicated and less stressful.
When you have good integrity you do not lie. You can look at yourself in the mirror. You have nothing to hide.
The Best Code of Conduct for You
So what is right and ethical for you? How do you work out your own code of conduct?
"WHAT IS TRUE FOR YOU is what you have observed yourself
"And when you lose that you have lost everything."
"What is personal integrity?
"Personal integrity is knowing what you know--
"What you know is what you know--
"And to have the courage to know and say what you have observed.
"And that is integrity
"And there is no other integrity." -- L. Ron Hubbard
No one needs to tell you what is right or wrong. You can see and decide for yourself.
For example, Doug may decide it is perfectly fine to drink wine with dinner. Wally may observe the same issue and decide it is wrong to drink wine. Both individuals made their own decisions. Both are operating with integrity.
Maggie may decide spending money on vacations is a crime while Joyce may decide skipping a vacation is a crime. Both make their own decisions about what is right and wrong.
Like most people, you have probably decided it is wrong to not support your family, abandon a friend, steal from your company, cheat on your marriage, shoplift, abuse drugs and so on.
You probably believe it is good to work hard, be kind to your parents, have fun, pay your bills, tell the truth, return things you borrow and so on.
You know the truth when you see it. You stick to your guns and build personal pride.
When you deceive your partner, you both lose a little. If you lie to your spouse, you weaken your marriage. Whenever you abandon what you know to be true, you lose.
Nothing makes you more miserable than "selling out" and failing to stick to your integrity.
10 Benefits of Living with Integrity
1. When you decide what is right or wrong for you, and act accordingly, you do not regret anything you do.
2. People follow your example and act more honestly.
3. Your powers of observation are more accurate. You can see the truth about others more easily.
4. No need to keep your stories straight as your stories are facts. Less mental work is required.
5. You handle rejection and criticism more easily. For example, you are not bothered if someone says, "Your fees are too high!" As you have no doubt that your fees are fair, you know the other person has the problem.
6. You have fewer personality conflicts with others, even when you are aggressive.
7. You fight crimes against you with more ferocity when you have nothing to hide.
8. When you make a mistake, it is easier to find the truth, accept responsibility and move forward.
9. You earn a reputation as a person with integrity. For example, employees brag about honest bosses. "He might be more honest about your work than you might want to hear, but he's fair and doesn't lie."
10. Your odds of being sued, fined or convicted of a crime go way down.
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