Everyone talks about authenticity in Business and many claim to have integrity, decency and a giving nature.
However, how common is it really to have the integrity we claim? Not easy! It may get easier later when we’re successful but that doesn’t count in my books.
I remember Branson’s first book where he talks about when he was setting up his famous magazine and before he went on further to found Virgin Music, Virgin Airlines, let alone Virgin Galactic and other myriad ventures and escapades.
He was selling page advertising to Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola and told each of them a different story to get them BOTH to take out advertising in his magazine.
Of course, being Richard Branson, the magazine went on to being a huge success. The point being of course that his very first “sale,” was intrinsically a lie. How much of a lie is that and is it acceptable?
More to the point have you ever told a “lie,” like that in business? Is it part of the culture of society and business and if so does it overlap into our personal lives?
I hope not, because it is a fine line indeed between the truth and a lie and I’d hate to judge another on a matter like this without first being scrupulously honest about my own history.
Chris Borrett
Image Credit: FreeImages.com/Marc Garrido i Puig
If by chance, you have not encountered my previous posts outside this blog, one of my favourites is about “How To Make A Decision and Stick To It”. You have the luxury of reading it by clicking here.