My Fair Share

I’ve always believed that ethics in business aren’t just a nice-to-have - they’re the long-term hedge, the reputation builder that keeps you aligned when money and opportunity tempt you to cut corners.

Sure, I could have made faster money or held onto a bigger slice of the pie. But I’ve always chosen to own a smaller piece of a bigger pie… and to build that pie with partners, investors, employees and vendors who feel they’ve been treated fairly. By “fair,” I mean the golden rule: treating others the way I’d want to be treated. Even when that hasn’t always been reciprocated, I can sleep well at night knowing I did what felt right.

Over the years, I’ve learned a few things:

• Generosity pays off. Call it an abundant mindset, but leaning toward generosity builds goodwill and keeps doors open.

• Fairness is subjective. Everyone defines “fair” differently. You’ll never get universal agreement on it - that’s just human nature… deal with it.

• Flexibility beats rigidity. The trick is to stay flexible, yet firm. Think - bamboo or a yogi on one leg - strong, grounded, but able to bend when needed.

At times, people will disappoint you. That’s inevitable. But the real failure is when we disappoint ourselves - when we fall below the ethical, moral, or right standard we know we should live by.

In the end my friends, ethics pay the highest dividend - the one that matters most: being able to look yourself in the mirror.

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Poll Results: The results are in from last week’s survey:

• 58% of voters said they wrestle most with “spotting the gaps”

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Song of the week…

Tim Martinez
“The Inside Man”

• Grab my latest book “Do Good Work” - Minor Shifts, Major Impact (buy here)

• Take TIMgpt for a spin.

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