PMETH

People often live their lives by multiple sets of standards.  For instance, some people will behave one way at work and behave entirely different while with family and friends.  Many people think that it's perfectly okay to have one set of ethics for their personal lives and a completely different and deficient set of values in their business lives.  We see it all the time.  It really is nonsensical though, to think that it's okay to misstate a financial statement or the financial position of a client and do whatever it takes to get ahead as long as you are truthful to your spouse. 

Why do otherwise honest people find it perfectly acceptable to do whatever it takes to keep a client.  Most professionals today think that you have to choose between being ethical and being successful.  Many people believe that embracing ethics would limit their options, their opportunities, and their ability to succeed in business.  But guess what, as John C. Maxwell points out in his book, there is no such thing as "Business" ethics.  There are only ethics, period!¹ 

Ethics is about how we meet the challenge of doing the right thing when that will cost more than we want to pay.²  Some companies have given up entirely on trying to figure out what's ethical and are instead using what's legal as their standard for decision making.  The result is moral bankruptcy.  As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said, if we aspire to a legal standard of moral excellence, we will have missed the point.  Man can do better.  You have to aspire to something higher than what's legal.  Is what you're doing right?¹ 

Many learned people - philosophers, theologians, lawyers—have really done their best to complicate what is really very simple.  Now don't get me wrong, living an ethical life every single day is not easy but the principles behind how to live an ethical life are easy.  That is, ethical principles are not theoretically complex.  It is the act of actually applying the principles to our daily lives that is difficult.  Those that use the Bible as their moral compass, if you will, know that living an ethical life requires levels of discipline and persistence that few people can muster. 

As John C. Maxwell wrote in his book, there is only one guideline to govern all our ethical decision making.  It is this: in any situation ask the question "How would I like to be treated in this situation?".  This, the Golden Rule, is an integrity guideline for any situation.¹  Yes, that's right, ANY situation.  It works in the boardroom, on the ball field, in the classroom and in the living room.  It works with employees, employers, family and peers.  For the people who desire to find a good, honest standard of ethical behavior to live by can find it in the Golden Rule - Always, always treat people the way you want to be treated. 

¹There's No Such Thing as "Business" Ethics, John C. Maxwell (I highly recommend this book)

²The Josephson Institute of Ethics

People Make Extraordinary Things Happen! ^™