Doing the Right Thing!

If you have been in the South and especially

North Carolina

over the past month, you know it has been very hot and humid with very little rain.  I’m not sure what to believe about the Global Warming theories, but I do know that it has been very hot this month.  It has been so hot that most of us would rather stay inside than venture out on an August afternoon.  This is the kind of sticky hot that makes your clothes instantly damp if you have any kind of movement outside.  The kind of hot that requires dozens of bottles of water each day to keep you hydrated.  The kind of hot that makes dogs and people pant.  It is so hot that anything that is French…fries.

It is under these conditions that my wife asked me to dig post holes and build a small deck and a wheel chair ramp for a man I have never met.  I have to admit, this was not a project that I wanted to do.  I did not want to stop what I was doing in my business and personal life to put on my work gloves and work with the post hole diggers in soil that is as hard as brick.  I did not really have my heart into sawing and nailing until I was covered in sticky sweaty saw dust and blackened finger nails from hitting the wrong nail.

I have been doing this for the past two weeks.  Why didn’t I just say no?

Back to the man I have never met.  He was recently diagnosed with cancer and has lost his ability to use his legs.  My troubles at work and my personal interests don’t seem too important when I compare myself to this gentleman.  I knew in my soul it was the right thing and I had to go help, no matter the conditions.

I’m digging and sweating because it was the right thing to do.

So many times in our jobs we find ourselves confronted with situations where we know the right thing to do, but for some reason, we are expected to take the easy way or even worse make choices that we would never make in our personal life.  These situations, where we are either expected to go against what is right or battle ourselves and rationalize to go against what is right, can damage a person.  This moral schizophrenia hangs over us as we try to live with the person we are and do what we know is right but still deliver the results using techniques and methods that are potentially unethical and at best, questionable.  We find ourselves expected to do things we know we could never explain “in a million years to our momma” or to our spouse, or kids.

I worked for over 25 years for large corporations in

America

and about five years ago found myself questioning the business practices I was expected to perform by a management team that certainly had different values than I.  Finally I made up my mind that there had to be a better way to live.  I wanted to look my son and daughter in the eye and tell them that I was doing the right thing.  I want to make my wife and parents proud of the decisions I make even if the results mean I don’t win the current battle.  I want to look in the mirror and know I’ve done the best I can and treat my prospects and clients the way they deserve to be treated for putting their trust in me.

I’m not going to tell you it is easy.  I’m not going to tell you that everyone is playing by the same set of rules.  That is OK.  In the end we all have to find our peace. I do know that doing the right thing is more than a publicity campaign.  It is a way of life. 

So I say this to you…if you find yourself in the same place I found myself several years ago, you can do the right thing.  When your competitors think they have to manipulate and trick their clients into doing business with them, continue your journey to a better place.  The good thing about this journey is that if you open your eyes and look around, you will find you have will have company going in the same direction.  It is OK to be honest and ethical.  It is OK to leave your comfort zone and help others. It is OK because these actions are not weaknesses but strengths!

We have a responsibility to our fellow man to treat them fairly and help when we are able.  So, as hot as it was out digging post holes and building that wheel chair ramp, when I look back at my choices, it seemed to be a breeze and I feel good about my efforts.  None of us are on this journey by ourselves.  It is important to “do the right thing” when you have the opportunity and bring value to your life.