Honesty & Integrity
If I wanted you to do something wrong, dishonest or illegal, or look the other way while I did the same, how much would it take to buy your silence? What is the price to ignore the difference between right and wrong and compromise your integrity and ethic?
Between Honesty and Integrity, which comes first and why?
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EXERCISE #1: A MEASURE OF YOU
If you were to measure your integrity on a scale of 1 to 10, what would that number be?
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If you were to measure your honesty on that same scale, what would that number be?
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From this point forward, those numbers will no longer matter. This is about consistently increasing your awareness and the effect that honesty and integrity have on your life.
IT STARTS WITH INTEGRITY
Once you understand where your integrity lies, then you become aware of how to move forward and build that even stronger foundation of integrity. At that point, honesty in your daily dealings then comes into play, invariably constructing itself upon the foundation you’ve laid. As you address these next questions, listen for your inner voice’s answers:
EXERCISE #2: WHO AM I?
Who am I when no one is looking? (Work habits, eating habits, etc.)
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Am I a different person when people are watching me?
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What do I truly value? (This isn't about what you THINK you're supposed to value)
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What do I stand for?
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How committed am I to these principles? In other words, do my daily actions reflect these principles and how?
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You’ve begun to evaluate your integrity. Where are you finding chinks? In the days and weeks ahead, make your integrity and your honesty non-negotiable. Start evaluating every single act that you think might have even a hint of dishonesty in it. In so doing, you’ll be replacing one brick at a time, and building that stronger foundation that becomes part of your winner’s image and your winner’s results.
EXERCISE #3: A DISTINCTION
In our audio program, we made a distinction between Honesty and Ethics. What is that distinction?
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EXERCISE #4: WHAT DO OTHERS THINK?
Ask a close friend or family member to give you an honest assessment of who they think you are — the good and the bad, the highs and the lows — as it relates to honesty and integrity. What was your feedback?
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How do you feel about this feedback?
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What will you consciously shift and take action on today because of this feedback?
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EXERCISE #5: AN IMPORTANT GROUP EXERCISE
If you’re in a business, make a point of sitting down with everyone to establish group guidelines on what your integrity is, both toward each other and your clientele, as well as what honest action entails. This creates a high-energy atmosphere that really moves forward because you’re all on the same page.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
Make a promise each morning that “Today, I’m going to do everything I can to act from integrity and honesty in every way. I will not participate in a dishonest act, no matter what the price.”
I can assure you — before you know, this will become your habit and you will reach a stage of your life where you quickly dismiss any action or proposed action of dishonesty. Imagine how your days will feel when you’re consciously living an integrity-based life!
"Dishonest action not only impacts you, but the people around you. Dishonest acts have the capability to bring a whole company ... a whole organization ... a whole city ... even a whole nation down." — Dr. Agarwal