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December 26, 2005
Sweat The Small Stuff!
We often hear we shouldn't sweat the small stuff. But if we truly value our reputations, we should always sweat the small stuff. Why?
Because if we can’t be trusted with the small stuff, why would we think people should trust us with the big stuff? The small stuff includes the dozens of daily decisions we make, some of them habitual and some of them more random. A few examples include how we treat fellow human beings when we’re late for work, whether we take a hard day at work out on our spouses or families and whether we choose the T.V. over a conversation with a loved one to end our day.
The world famous NYPD uses the same philosophy today to reduce crime in New York City, which used to be crime ridden and is now one of the safest large cities in the world. The philosophy dictates that if a criminal can’t be trusted with the small stuff, like jumping a turnstile in a subway instead of paying for a $2 ride, the criminal probably couldn’t be trusted with the big stuff like breaking, entering and stealing from an apartment or robbing from a bank.
In media interviews, I am often asked, “Where does the slippery slope begin for a reputation in crisis?” My answer always includes the following response, “The slippery slope starts in the small stuff and builds until you are no longer walking on the path to truth because you are now drowning in a pool of deceit and immoral decision making.”
A recent article in the Christian Science Monitor discussed integrity as the most looked up word in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary in 2005. The definition of INTEGRITY: in·teg·ri·ty
Pronunciation: in-'te-gr&-tE
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English integrite, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French integrité, from Latin integritat-, integritas, from integr-, integer entire
1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : INCORRUPTIBILITY
2 : an unimpaired condition : SOUNDNESS
3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : COMPLETENESS
synonym see HONESTY
I think it is sad that in 2005 we still need to look up the word integrity instead of living it consistently and proudly. However, I also think it is a good thing that even though many of us are weak and fail in the area of integrity in our lives we are still interested in learning more about it. So let’s remember a few tips to help us along the way:
• Sweat the small stuff.
• If we make poor decisions with the small stuff, we are probably making poor decisions with the big stuff.
• When at the fork in the road, chose the path of truth and integrity every time.
• Don’t only understand what integrity means by looking it up in the dictionary, live lives of integrity and morality consistently and proudly each day.
About Mike Paul
Mike Paul is editor of The Reputation Doctor blog. The Reputation Doctor is a nickname given to him by various clients. Mike's blog is located online at www.TheReputationDoctor.com. He appears regularly on Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, Court TV, ABC News, ESPN, CBS News, BBC, and others as a weekly contributor and expert in the global news regarding leaders, celebrities, corporations and other organizations with reputations in crisis. Mr. Paul is also president and senior counselor of MGP & Associates PR (www.mgppr.com), a leading strategic public relations and reputation management firm based in New York. For interview requests, speeches or business opportunities with Mr. Paul, call 212-595-8500.
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