Integrity is: Doing
right thing because it is right thing to do.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.
One reason I like Andrew Carnegie: he was honest about hard work. He was once interviewed and asked if he had ever had a clue his life would turn out way that it had. His response was something to effect that had he known all that lay before him -- he might never have been able to get up on any given day. BUT you see-- he did get up. And he did what was before him each and everyday, for right reasons and to best of his ability.
