CONNECTING THROUGH INTEGRITY

Integrity is adheringto the moral principles of life. Integrity is doing things with honor. Integrity is honesty. And integrity is the glue that holds relationships together. Integrity says, “I wish to pay fair price for all value. Getting something for nothing makes nothing of me. Getting it cheap makes me cheap.”

In your enlightened self-interest, this is one of the better affirmations you could make: “I wish to pay fair price for every value. I wish to give for everything I receive.” This is self-interest, and it is also integrity. Whywould you want to pay for every value and give for everything you receive?

If you have to pay, it will make something of you. By giving, you have the integrity not to take advantage of others.

You hear of greedy people boasting about the great deal they just got, how they negotiated the price down to nothing, how they manipulated the other person out of making a profit. Good integrity would not let you do that. We all shop for the greatest value at the best price, but not at the expense of others. Not when your great deal cheated someone out of their profit.

You have got to pay a fair price for someone else to do a job for you; because if you do not, they will never work for you again. They do not want to work long, hard hours to make you look good and not get compensated for it.

And your integrity will not allow that to happen. Pay an honest price for an honest value. Give something in return for what you have received. Make it good for everybody involved. Do not be cheap, be fair. It is your integrity that is on the line, not just a few cedis. If you want something badly enough, you have to pay for it. Why? Because of what paying for it will make of you.

Integrity is a good catchword that is similar to character but provides us with a different way of looking at the ideas of character. The root of integrity means “whole” or “undivided”, and that is a terrific way to help us understand what integrity is—an undivided life. For example, you do not act one way in one situation and another in a different situation. There is integrity and wholeness to your life. Living this way will build trust in the people you interact with. Another use of the word integrity that provides insight for us is when the word is used in regard to a physical structure. A wall or a building that is strong and has no cracks is said to have integrity. The same could be said for people who lead their lives with honesty.

It is regularly said that honesty is the best policy, but Rohn would add that honesty is the only policy for great leaders. Think about it. Why do people hedge the truth? Usually for a few basic reasons: They are either afraid of the ramifications or they are trying to hide something. Either way, a lack of honesty results in the fact that you destroy the trust of those who do business with you. Even if you tell close associates the truth but they know you have lied to others, it will destroy the trust you had with them. They find themselves thinking, “If he will lie to them, will he lie to me?”

It difficult to understand what people hope to accomplish by being dishonest. Eventually people come to know that you are not honest in your dealings, and that is what you become known for. Your reputation is what your personality is based on, though. When we are honest and live transparently before our associates, they are able to see us for who we are and make solid decisions to deal with us.

Jim Rohn offers a great story about integrity. When the Apostle Paul was about to die, he spoke about the reputation he wanted to leave behind. He made three powerful statements, and here is the first: “I fought a good fight.” Let that be your reputation. You fought a good fight. You kept away the ideology that could taint your children. You fought every enemy that ever threatened you.

You protected the children and the home front. Let that be your reputation. It does not matter whether or not you won. You fought for your integrity. You fought for honesty. You fought for success. You did not leave any energy unspent.

Apostle Paul’s second statement was, “I finished the task.” I stayed until it was done. They gave me a task, and I finished it. I did not leave it half done. I never walked off the semester after in midstream because I have not been paid. I stayed.

Statement number three: “I kept the faith.” Well that is important. Keep faith with your family. Keep faith with your church. Keep faith with your enterprise. Keep faith with your students.

In certain groups people pledge their unwavering confidence in each other. Each individual pledges that to all members. That is a group for you to be in; a group that has so much integrity. You need to be involved with people who pledge and keep your confidences.

Develop the reputation of integrity, so no matter where you go, you will represent your family well or represent your company well. Your goal is success in the service of others, not at the expense of others. At the end of your road, you want to be able to say, “I fought a good fight, I finished the job, and I kept the faith.”

That last part, keeping the faith, is not that easy. The Lord’s Prayer says, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Help us keep integrity in spite of the evil, in spite of going through the valley of the shadow of darkness. Deliver us from the fear that evil will dislodge us from our integrity.

Keep the faith of the office. Keep the faith of the company. Keep the faith of the family, of your spouse, and of your children. Keep the faith of the church. Keep the faith of the community.

Wherever you go, represent your family well. Wherever you go, represent your group well. Wherever you go, represent your colleagues well. Let part of the bond of friendship be that wherever each of you are, you will represent all of you well.

Apostle Paul finished his dying wish by saying, “I understand there is a crown waiting for me… and I deserve it.” Wouldn’t it be great to say, “I hear they have a trophy for me. Guess what? I deserve it.” What a magnificent story to leave behind: I fought a good fight; I finished the job; kept the faith; and I deserve the crown.

Others you associate with may not have the integrity to leave such a legacy behind, but you cannot make that your concern. Let other people lead small lives. You are destined for something better.

CAPTAIN SAM ADDAIH RTD