I recently reread an Earl Nightingale piece that talked about integrity. This term brings so many things to light. It’s all about doing what is right, not necessarily that which is expedient. Doing something because everyone else does it doesn’t fit this definition of integrity. Upholding the truth is essential, not shading some truth with spin.

My career was spent primarily in sales, sales management and some marketing. My brother the accountant used to ask “how do you know when a salesman is lying, when his lips are open! This always elicited laughs, we’ve all seen our share of dishonest sales types.

In reality the truly successful sales professional is painfully honest and builds a relationship of trust with his customers because of this integrity. When you can be forthright with the truth even when it doesn’t advance your cause, you are showing your integrity.

One of the reasons people are so distrustful of politicians is because of the misrepresentations they make. Skewing information to suit their purpose is often obvious and never leads to trust. Trust is gained through consistent observation of integrity.

Its sometimes funny how these things are well known but not always widely practiced. One can set themselves apart by living with integrity.