Have you ever had to utter these words? …To state your case and defend your character? What can be more important than to be trustworthy with our character intact?

No matter what temporary gratification or favor we may enjoy as a result of dishonesty, we have to consider lasting consequences that may be honestly unfavorable.

The need for instant gratification in our modern society has made it all too easy to slip out the white lie, to please others, or to ease the pressure on ourselves. In doing so, we implicitly accept deception as part of our culture. Honesty, integrity and trustworthiness are supposedly highly-valued character traits, but what do these terms actually mean?

1. Honesty

To be honest is to ‘tell the truth’. It is simply conforming ‘words to reality’. Honesty is regarded as the best policy. It sets the record straight and allows the truth to be known and declared.

Honesty, however, is not the same as Integrity. A thief can be honest… all he or she needs to do is ‘tell the truth’. We can agree that one is likely to be dishonest for fear of negative consequences. If the consequence is favorable, honesty may be likely. Consider criminals who will tell the truth for a lighter sentence.

On this point, we need to also appreciate that ‘admission’ is not the same as ‘confession’. When one ‘confesses’ something, they come forward and tell the truth. However, when one ‘admits’ something, it’s usually because they have been caught out.

2. Integrity

To have integrity is to be true to our highest values. Unlike honesty, integrity means to conform ‘reality to words’. Integrity is linked in the word ‘integrate’… and to live with integrity means integrating our thoughts, actions, speech and feelings into oneness. What you see is what you get; no duplicity.

To have integrity is to be true in the moment of challenge, test and temptation. Our highest values mean little in declaration if it cannot be lived in combination with action.

On this point, we must consider ‘acts of commission’ and ‘acts of omission’. An ‘act of commission’ is when you do something that violates what you know you should do. An ‘act of omission’ is one in which you don’t do something that you know you should. Equally, this could be a violation to conscience, ethics and law.

3. Trustworthiness

It has been said that to be trusted is greater than to be loved. To be trusted implies that you are trustworthy or ‘worthy of trust’.

It requires character – “who you really are on the inside”. Too many consider their reputation first.

“Be more concerned with your character than you are with your reputation, because your character is who you really are, whilst your reputation is who others think you are” – Anonymous

Stephen Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, teaches that trustworthiness is a combination of “character” and “competence”. One without the other does not merit trust.

Effective relationships are built on honesty, integrity and trustworthiness. These, along with virtue, once lost become difficult to regain. Repair, restoration and a ‘second chance’ is however possible with self awareness, change, commitment and forgiveness: both by the perpetrator and the one who would grant the perpetrator that chance.

Do business people, officials, politicians and ordinary people make mistakes? Yes! Can we all benefit from how we may better treat others? Yes! These principles are as important and timeless in tough times as they are when things are much better.

Anil Salick is the founder and managing member of Synergistic Outcomes (established in 2003). He has been involved in training and development for the last 13 years, and is a facilitator, trainer and professional speaker. He is also involved in marketing, sales, consulting, development, management, leadership and administration.

Anil works with small, medium and large sized corporations, as well as governments in South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Nigeria, Namibia and Swaziland.

Described as a great teacher and facilitator with patience, wisdom, humor, wit, understanding, sincerity; Anil has the ability to challenge participants to grow and expand. His step by step, sequential yet creative, intellectual yet emotional facilitation equips delegates to develop space, reason, consciousnesses and awareness.

Anil has a number of hobbies, which include: fitness and gym; reading, writing, science, humanism, personal growth, fishing, reflection and quiet time, helping others and making a difference. He is soon to launch his first book.

Anil is married to Nounouche (the prettiest girl from the island of Madagascar) and they have 3 children: Andrea, Jashley and Tahj.

If you would like to know more about Anil Salick or would like to book Anil to be a Motivational Speaker, visit Anil’s site

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Tags: ethics, way, position, person, result

Lie: a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood.

In recent years, thousands of individuals have lost their jobs due to unethical corporate behavior. Americans have been witness to numerous scandals in government offices — from local politicians, all the way to the White House.

Everywhere you turn, you hear about identity theft, Internet scams, and crimes against the elderly and homeless. It can oftentimes seem as if everyone is out to get you.

The truth is, while there are scammers and cheats; there are just as many good and honest people. You just have to know how to determine who you can trust and who you should avoid.

Many people think the Internet is this vast network, connecting people all over the world. They think that because the Internet is so big, they can easily commit crimes and scams. Nothing could be further from the truth.

While it’s true that some scammers do get away with their crimes, there are many more that get caught. People are becoming more of the tactics that scammers use and are exceptionally reluctant to provide strangers with personal information.

In order to develop a successful Internet marketing plan, you must build your platform based on honesty. If you do, those who are interested in what you offer will soon be flocking to your door.

Think about it. How many times have you ordered a product from a website? While there are millions of Americans who shop online; the majority of them conduct business with names they trust.

It’s challenging for the “little” guy to get noticed out in cyberspace. But, it can be done.

Although having a website is not a requirement of Internet marketing, it certainly helps. A website is the platform where you can present information and sell your product or service.

There are two types of websites: 1) one that you create yourself, or hire a designer to create for you; 2) one provided to you by a company you represent. These types of sites are also known as affiliate or mirror websites.

Creating your own website provides you with the luxury of presenting whatever type of information you desire. It is your responsibility to write content, locate appropriate graphics, and make certain you post the proper legal disclaimers.

Using an affiliate or mirror site limits your ability to alter content, offer promotions, or build a customer mailing list. For the most part, the only thing you can do with this type of website is direct traffic to it in an attempt to make sales.

Today’s technologies allow nearly everyone the opportunity to build a professional looking website. Most companies who offer web building services offer monthly payment plans, making it affordable and convenient.

Tools are included which allow website owners to upload audio and video files; and allow visitors to download digital goods. At the press of a button you can add an interactive forum or chat room and engage visitors in real-time conversation.

Byron has been working with computers for over twenty years. He got his first computer in 1983, a Commodore 64 and started writing games while teaching himself to program in assembler. He into commercial IT in 1989 and started working with Mainframe computers and UNIX systems, since then his IT experience and skills have grown in leaps and bounds.

A few years ago he got involved with the Better Business Institute and trained to become a Marketing Consultant. He’s has now combined the marketing knowledge gained and his IT experience to create his company Pax Mentis where he provides ‘Peace of Mind’ internet marketing solutions.

His main ezine is aimed at the novice who wants to gain the technical skills and confidence to setup their own online business.

In The Honest Marketer you will learn exactly what you need to do to create a website that instills trust in your visitors.

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Tags: way, ethics, access, person, market

So you’ve decided that you could benefit from a relationship with a public relations firm. Good decision. Well, maybe.

If you don’t have a personal referral from someone, finding the right PR firm can be a daunting task. Think about it. If you need a lawyer, how do you find a lawyer that has the experience, time and fee structure that is right for you? Unfortunately, when retaining the services of any consultant, be it an attorney, accountant or PR firm, you often don’t know what you are buying until you’ve already bought it.

Here are some tips on hiring the right firm for you.

First, decide on a budget. How much can you reasonably afford to spend on a public relations company over the course of at least six months. PR firms, good ones, need at least six months to get results. So having a budget in mind, just like you know how much rent you can afford, is a good place to start because it will immediately narrow down the list.

Then, define your objectives. This may seem obvious, but you want a firm that has experience in the PR area you need. Whatever you do, don’t fall for the line that “we know PR and can market anything.” That is like an estate planning lawyer doing a criminal defense case. It is not his/her area. There in nothing wrong with that, but you want a firm with experience in the area you are in need of.

When you are ready, the best thing to do is ask some of your associates who have worked with PR consultants for a recommendation. Hopefully the recommendations you get are from firms that know your business.

If your associates can’t offer a good recommendation, then the best thing to do is turn to the web. Everything of substance is on the internet. Use Google and insert keywords for the type of PR work you are interested in. Examples might be “financial PR” or “nonprofit PR” and so forth. And, make sure to include the city you are in. You want a firm that is relatively close to you.

When you have a list of five or so firms, shoot them an inquiry email. You’d be surprised how much you can learn from a company that you contact cold. I believe that firms that respond to blind inquiries are firms that will work even harder for clients. Companies that ignore people they don’t know are firms that are too busy to go the extra mile for their clients.

When you have narrowed down the list, have in-person meetings with them. Make sure you find out how they charge, exactly who will be working on your account, what results you can expect, their experience in your industry and how long they believe it will take to achieve results.

Last, a major indicator that you have found the right PR consultant is simple chemistry. Do you seem to get along with them and can you talk freely and openly? Remember, you will be working with your PR consultant day in and day out. You want it to be a pleasurable and rewarding experience.

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Tags: relation, public, firm, right, way