Integrity is NOT: simply standing by your own ideals just to be rigid.

The dictionary defines integrity as: Adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.

Adherence to strict moral and ethical reasoning is different than sticking by something you just believe in solidly or choose for you desires. Moral and ethical codes have within them a sense that these ideal transcend individualized agendas and instead are codes which apply to a wider group than just yourself.

Why do I bring up integrity ? Because all to often we get so focused on our own agenda, our own goals that we forget to take time to verify if we are doing "what is right" along way.

Becoming wealthy can be quite a noble venture-- especially when one becoming wealthy plans on using that wealth to assist others. But, gaining wealth my dishonesty, or any other means of compromising ones character, does not justify end result.

An example of living on target for integrity's sake is : Andrew Carnegie. Andrew Carnegie became America's richest immigrated citizen after years and years of hard work. At age 65 he sold his company and devoted his remaining years to giving away his wealth. He funded building of over 2,000 libraries within English speaking world. And gave away somewhere close to $350 million total to those needing various forms of assistance.

What Is The Emperor Wearing?

Truth-Telling In Business Relationships

Butterworth-Heinneman

ISBN 0-7506-9872-1

217 pages

This book is inspired by popular tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes”. It provides stories of ordinary individuals in workplace who are in predicament of confronting unlikely benefits of “deception” and steering away from risks and dangers of “truth-telling”.

Unfortunately, “truth-telling” is justifiably perceived to be difficult, risky, and unrewarding. More often than not, others will try to invalidate your truth with what they believe is true rather than discover true nature of problem.

Take case of Rita. She tried to tell truth to her manager, Kerwin, but he refused to listen. Her predictions were correct, but it was only after scandal broke out in media that Kerwin realized it. Clearly, Rita’s truth was ignored.

Robert, however, was reluctant to accept that his store manager was stealing supplies from his dry cleaning establishment. Robert lost money in a store that seemed to be doing very good business simply because he’d rather not know what truth is.

Truth-telling has become more risky and difficult to some of characters in book. Basically, they had hard times telling truth when:

•the truth is bad news

•the truths collide—thatis, when your truth getsfabricated along way

•you’d be happier if you know what truth is

•you’re not sure if your truth is really true

•your integrity is sacrificed

•it makes better sense not to tell truth

The genuine stories of Rita, Robert and other characters of book proved profitable side of truth-telling. In long run, it has become obvious that truth-telling is always more beneficial than “deception”. To practice skill following is recommended:

•Examine Assumptions. With fear of jeopardizing her position by confronting manager, Kathleen decided to carefully examine her opinion that her boss is behaving inappropriately at meetings they attended. Eventually, it dawned on her that her objectives are different from his.

•Know Yourself First. Irwin, a telecommunications executive, was not aware of his alcohol problems. It took near disaster before he realized this. Looking back, Irwin identified that incident as a major turning point in his life and career.