Alabama entrepreneur, Press L. Thornton, started up a lumber company with 1 employee. 3 years later he was carrying out $ three million in sales. Asked the secret of good results, he replied, “Integrity above all.”
Why ‘integrity’? Due to the fact those who rigorously insist upon it reap concrete rewards: competitiveness, profits, and influence. Their offshoots are loyal clients, a growing membership, and the confidence of customers, investors, vendors, regulators, community and society. By-items are the timeless, priceless intangibles of trustworthiness and sterling reputation.
Is it of greater gravity than ever? Monumental evidence declares an emphatic “Yes.”
Look about. The news is replete with accounts of wrecked reputations and ruined careers, evidencing significant integrity lapses. Commonplace are episodes that result in the firings of executives and staff.
Reports abound of unbelievable sums expended for legal fees and penalties. In conspicuous instances, the complete organization collapses.
The words ‘performance’ and ‘integrity’ warrant a closer look.
