This is a hard one for me. I think of myself as someone with a deep sense of right and wrong, but there have been times in my life where I strayed from the values I was given in my formative years. In college I was caught stealing contact solution and banned from a grocery store. In middle school I probably added half a point on my GPA by cheating on tests and quizzes. There have been times where I have taken advantage of someone else's mistake for my own gain. I’m sure there are many other examples I have chosen to bury where my memory can’t find them. Remembering these moments is painful - really painful - and discussing them publicly is worse, particularly because for my entire professional life I have strived to conduct myself with the utmost professionalism and integrity.

I believe anyone who knows me, both personally and professionally, would say that they can count on me to be honest and do the right thing. My clients trust that I always put their interests first and try to make the best decisions for their business. My friends and family know that I will be there when things are going well and in times of crisis, willing to drop everything to be at their side. It feels like we constantly hear about things that seem inconceivable for anyone with a moral compass. Madoff, Enron, WorldCom: these are household names that have inspired books and movies. What we don't hear about are the millions of decisions made every day around the world to do or not do the right thing. Some of these situations are easier to recognize and respond to (rejecting an outright bribe for example), but others can be tempting simply because of how small or unlikely to be noticed they are. Submitting a mildly exaggerated expense report, accepting credit for a project where your colleague did the heavy lifting, pocketing a hundred dollars that you saw fall out of someones purse on the subway platform. These are the truest test of character: will you do the right thing when no one’s looking? When you’re likely to get away with it?

In the long run, those that choose to conduct themselves with integrity will be rewarded with more opportunities than those that don’t. When faced with adversity they can stand tall and firm knowing that the unseen hand will eventually be on their side. When looking for new business, current and past clients will provide genuinely glowing recommendations. While developing or launching a new product, suppliers will do their best work and people will be more likely to volunteer their time or resources. In times of crisis, the best people will rally around you. Think about the people you’ve encountered who you would consider as lacking integrity. People you know are only out for personal gain, who would throw a hard-working colleague under the bus without a second thought. Would you put your reputation on the line by recommending them for a job or invest in their latest venture even if it sounds promising? I didn’t think so.    

Integrity is like making your bed every day. Small things have a compound effect over time. It is always going to be there, always something you can come back to. You may have lost your way in the past. I know I have. You will probably make mistakes in the future. I certainly will. The truth is that it is never too late to start doing the right thing. The next time you find yourself faced with a decision that requires some moral fortitude, look inward and make yourself proud.