Last week we discussed What Work-Life Balance is All About. This week we are going to discuss another value that not only guides my professional life, but also guides our entire team at The Quantify Group. That value is: doing what is right, all the time.
When I started working in business I always assumed that integrity was a given, but as I continued to be exposed to individuals and corporations, I began to realize that people will value money over integrity 9 times out of 10.
How does working for Profits and living from Integrity work together?
Let’s look at a hypothetical (yet viable) circumstance: You are faced with a huge decision with two differing options, and therefore, outcomes. One option will double the revenue of your company and the other will do nothing. The option that will double your revenue is probably not the right thing to do… But it will double the revenue of your company. Can you see how “doing the right thing” can quickly become a grey area of tension for people?
This kind of situation happens all the time, just on a much smaller scale. I can use my company as an example: Let’s say we have a client that wants to record something on their books that we know is wrong. They are doing it to make themselves look better, save on taxes, etc. If we tell them we aren’t doing it, we risk losing the client and therefore revenue. However, if we choose to do it, we are doing something we know is wrong and violating one of our core values. This is a situation we have found ourselves in before, and it has been a hard line draw, but it must be drawn. The reason this line needs to be drawn is because the people we service, and the decisions they make, reflect upon us.
It is my honest opinion that if you do what is right all the time, you will be more successful in the long run. Sure, some people will lie, cheat and steal their way to the top, and they might do it at your expense. But deception and corruption does catch up over time — and it has a price tag within a different monetary system.
Honestly, I would much rather go to sleep every night with a clear conscience then with a few extra dollars in my pocket.
You are going to make mistakes
On the flip side, you are going to make mistakes. It is a part of life. It is how we react to those mistakes that matters. What am I talking about? Let’s say you mess something up for a client and it costs them money. Under most circumstances, the right thing would be for you to cover that for them. However, many times it is easy to hide behind some legal contract or exception in the law. Does that make it right? I would argue no. So while covering your mistake(s) for the client out of your own pocket won’t be fun, it may be the right thing to do. And let me say this: If that is how you choose to operate your business, clients and prospects WILL take notice, I can guarantee that. Your reputation is what gets you clients. And what better way to grow your reputation than being known as the person or company that does what is right all the time?
In Conclusion
Doing the right thing can be hard and doing “the right thing” is not always apparent. It can cost you a lot of money and potentially relationships. I get that. However, if you always make it a priority to do what is right, I guarantee you won’t regret it. While cutting corners may put more cash in your pocket, having a positive impact of character upon a community really is invaluable.
