When the pressure is on integrity gets tested.

The seas are full of Pirates and temptation is everywhere.

A business must be built on values, ethics and purpose.
Most of all, it must be in the best interests of your customer.

Inevitably, people will fail, buckle and corrupt.
Inevitably some will do the easy thing.
Inevitably they will fail.

The right thing is more often the difficult thing.
The difficult thing always rewards.

Next time you take the easy road ask yourself one long term question;

“Where will this lead?”

The answer will tell you lots (about your own business).

It’s easy for the little guy to be the big shot.
Sometimes a little power goes to a big head.

Tempting to say yes when you really mean no.
Tempting to swagger and sway.
Tempting to enjoy the feeling of power or even control.

Thing is, it doesn’t last.
It damages your brand.
Destroys your credibility.
Shatters your reputation.
And finally weakens your worth.

Next time, if the answer is no, say no.
If the answer is maybe say maybe.
If the answer is yes, say yes.

Next time, remember the impact of short term ego trips.

When times are testing you there will be choices, lots of choices.
Here’s two more!

Get yourself over the line, out of the storm and safely on to the beach.
Or,
Bring others with you too.

The choice is yours.

It’s tough out there for lots of small businesses.
We know, we see it every day.

When times are tough integrity will be tested.
Sometimes severely.

What you do in tough times and how you behave will be remembered.
Chose carefully.
Choose very carefully.

If you can’t afford something – say so.
If you can – say so.

Whatever you do, tell the truth.

We write all our own workshops and courses.
We like doing it.
It seems we are pretty good at it too.

Recently, we have seen 2 companies copy us. Not covertly, rather overtly and (if I may say) crudely.

We are not annoyed.
After all, we can all spot a fake and the market it attracts will always get what they pay for.

If your life is about copying, copy away.
If your life is about leading or teaching or learning or inspiring.
Do something new.

Just like us, some won’t work but some will surprise you.

But, if you want to be a fake, stay in the low foothills then don’t be surprised when your customers ambush you.
Or, worse still, somebody shouts “You fraud”.

There are people and then there is everything else.
Nothing sells anything – except people.
Nothing represents your brand – except people
Nothing makes a difference – without your people.

You might just have rounded up a few precious coins.
The big question is “What to do?”

You could buy pens and stationery.
You could buy a new machine.
You could even buy a new desk, or chair or even a car, truck or van.

You could re carpet, refurbish or re paint.
You could increase expenses and increase costs.
You might even increase wages.

Go back to the start.
What influences new sales most?
People.

Now ask yourself “What will I do?”

Assuming people are important to you.
Assuming you value them.
Assuming you believe in them.

You now know what to do.

Have you ever jumped into a little rowing boat?
Did it capsize?
If not, I bet it bucked with fright and went to the edge.

Like the boat, a business needs balance.
Balance won’t come from manuals, it will come from judgment.
Judgment comes from experience.

The balancing act facing every business is to cut or hold.
A little like Poker.
Shall I stay, shall I go?

There is no ‘right’ answer, that’s where judgment comes in.

Some of your customers will push and push and push again.
Some will take and take.

On the other hand, many will thank you, value you and stay loyal to you.

When Push Push and Shove Shove come looking again.
You have two choices.
Accept and be grateful.
Say ‘No’ and be grateful.

If you accept and be grateful you slip into a deep slippery slope never to recover.
It is a short term desperate strategy that kills the brand, the business and your initial vision.

It’s much harder to say “No, I’m sorry, I won’t”.

If you don’t believe me, ring the White House and see if President Obama will spare you the time.

Sometimes it’s you who needs to rock the boat.
(and maybe even let a man go overboard)

The world is full of post recession litigation.
Legal Eagles are busy defending and prosecuting.

A new ethical norm has arise.
It’s called “Getting away with it”.
Versus “what’s right”.

There is a difference.

Getting away with it means “I didn’t get caught”.
Getting caught is not the judge of morally right.

Doing the right thing will always be- well – the right thing.
Inevitably, it will be the more difficult route.

‘Getting away with it’ is thin dangerous ice.
It confuses right from wrong.

In the end, those who ‘get away with it’ miss the point.
It’s not about fooling the Judge, The Court or even the Prosecution.
It’s far worse.

It’s about fooling yourself.

It’s that dreadful “I’m new” feeling.
You are watching, waiting and trying to fit in.

New people come by in an overwhelming kind of way.
“Hi, I’m Joe, welcome.”
“Morning, I’m Barbara, if I can help, just shout.”
“You must be the new Guy? I’m Bob.”
On it goes.

After some time you realize the packaging didn’t quite match the inside.
The offer of help turned out to be from a well disguised agitator.
The cheerful smile is the most miserable doomsdayer.
The quiet one turns out to be the real friend.

Courage comes and it’s time to voice an opinion.
Bullets and missiles everywhere.

“Young Man, that’s not the way we do things here.”

The choice is stark. Stay or Go.
The old guard will resist.
The middle will dither.
The dynamos will say yes.

How you react will define you.
What’s more, it will define your future path.

Speaking of paths.
New paths will never be created by rehashing old routes.
Sometimes toes need to be trod on.

Think before you suggest.
Think positively.
Fear not.

Remember how new paths get built.
Then do it anyway.

Big gestures.
Huge cheques.
A donation twice as much as your annual earnings.
Dramatic outlandish bids.
Unreal flash money.

In conversation with my dad, he said this;

“Charity is not how much you give but what’s left.”