Integrity. The
word itself brings many thoughts and emotions. Integrity is quite possibly the most important aspect of
one’s self, and how well it is protected and portrayed is up to you. I was taught that integrity was like
virginity: no one can take it from you, but once you give it up, you cannot get
it back. As I have grown as a
person, leader, and manager, I have learned that although this statement is not completely
true, it expresses the importance of the need to protect your integrity. I personally once took a hit to my
integrity–my fault completely–and it took years of hard work and
self-discovery to gain it back. I
fought hard, as will you if you choose to ever give any part of it up. Integrity is doing what is right,
always. Doing what is right is not
always easy. Doing what is right
when no one is there to see it is tough as well. You may be tempted to cut a corner when people aren’t
looking – that is a hit to your
integrity. You may take advantage
of your perceived power, and feel ‘above the law’ – that is a hit to your integrity. You may knowingly take advantage of a certain situation to
advance your own agenda and let others fail – that is a hit to your integrity. When you see something wrong, and choose to not correct it,
or say something – that is a hit to your integrity. If it sounds similar to trust, it is. You can gain and lose people’s trust
based solely on your integrity.
The question you need to ask yourself every moment of every day is, ‘am I willing to give up my integrity’?
Ultimately, giving up any part of your integrity is a choice, and all
choices have consequences.
Hey, didn't I tell you that virginity thing? Don't remember, old age, LOL.
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