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"The truth of the matter is that you always know the
right thing to do. The hard part is doing it."
-
Norman
Schwarzkopf
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It’s The Right Thing to Do
By Craig Kitch
www.craigkitch.com
I read a great story about President
Dwight D. Eisenhower, relayed by one of his staff members. Apparently
the Eisenhower cabinet had been in a tussle over a difficult decision.
Each of the cabinet officers argued the subject endlessly from his
perspective. The secretary of defense argued that if his idea were not
implemented, it would damage national security. The secretary of state
argued a point that would protect foreign policy. The secretary of the
treasury was concerned about financial implications. Finally, a
red-faced President Eisenhower asked: “Well, what’s the right
thing to do?” To that, one of the cabinet members said: Well, the
right thing would be thus and such, to which all of the cabinet
members agreed. The president made his decision and the press was
notified.
Being counted on to do the right thing means something else as well. It
means you have integrity. My definition of integrity is: “what you do in
a morally tempting situation when you are certain that no one is
watching you”. You know the kind of situation I mean. You find an
envelope or wallet with a lot of money in it and there is absolutely
nobody around but you. What do you do? Do you keep the cash or turn it
in at the nearest police station so that the rightful owner has a chance
to get it back? Or how about one that strikes a little closer to home:
you get an extra $5 bill back from the cashier because she miscounted
your change. Do you correct her mistake and return the money or do you
quietly celebrate your little windfall on your way out the door.
How you react to these, and similar situations, is the true barometer of
your personal integrity. Integrity should be such a valuable possession
that you desire to protect it at all cost. When you are known as a
person who can be counted on to do the right thing, you will continually
build trust with your associates and customers. Can your employer count
on the fact that you are giving 100% effort to your job when you are not
being watched, or are you chatting about your personal life with other
staff members? Are you working diligently to complete a project on time,
or are you surfing the Internet while no one is looking? Can your
customers count on that fact that you are looking out for their best
interests, or do you see them only as a revenue source to be milked for
all they’re worth?
We have all heard (and most of us agree) that honesty is the best
policy. But do we really live our lives that way? I encourage you to
live your life to the fullest and become known as a person of
uncompromising integrity. Be so trustworthy that no one will ever be
able to challenge your honesty, and you will never have to defend it.
Do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do.
For more information on how
you can reach your full potential and perform at your best on a daily
basis, visit
www.craigkitch.com
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