Integrity

Integrity: A Cornerstone For Business Practises


Adherence to moral values

Incorruptibility

Completeness

Soundness


When business practises are based upon these four principles, which actually summarize the definition of word 'integrity', the business will not merely survive, it will thrive.

When business practises depart from adherence to moral values, corruption results. The business is no longer complete as a whole. It is divided, whenever its integrity is compromised. It becomes in a sense, incomplete. It can no longer function as a sound business. The business is then teetering on the verge of a collapse.

Many businesses have succeeded and continue to succeed, because of the integrity of their business practises. Many other businesses have failed, because of their lack of integrity in their business practises.

As a business owner, you make the choice for or against integrity. Your decision will determine the success or the failure of your business, so choose your cornerstone with care!


Adherence to Moral Principles


Every people, culture or nation in the world, has a set of true values or moral principles, upon which their particular civilization is built. Where these values and moral principles are adhered to and thus maintained, there is a healthy, happy environment in which the people, culture and nation thrive.

When the true values are lost and the moral principles are no longer adhered to, or perhaps disintegrate, an unhealthy, un-civilized environment results. There is no longer peace and contentment amongst the people. In fact, the entire nation may disintegrate into warfare.

The same basic principle applies to business. A business can only thrive, if and when the environment upon which it is based, rooted or grounded, remains a solid construct upon a moral base. Adherence to the true values and moral principles is essential, not only for growth, but also for survival.

A very simple example is that of a building being built or constructed with just one block, on the corner that is crumbling. How long can that building actually stand, based upon that cornerstone?

Is it really safe to build upon it? Is anyone even aware of the faulty block and the danger involved? Is it too late, when it is found or has the structure already collapsed, at least in part?

It becomes increasingly important to ascertain that the foundation of a business is based upon solid blocks, not blocks that are crumbling, or about to cause a collapse of the business structure.

The choice of the cornerstone is absolutely vital. Values and the principles are basic building blocks for business. The lack of integrity, with respect to one of the blocks in the business structure, can endanger the integrity of the entire business.


Incorruptibility


Incorruptibility in a business, determines its success or failure to a large degree. Once corruption begins, it will only grow. It is like a weed seed, that has been accidentally or maliciously planted in a garden. Unless it is eradicated immediately and completely, it will gradually invade every part of the garden.

A quickly multiplying weed, essentially growing wild, may even take over the entire garden before too long, killing all of the other plants. In the beginning, it may not even seem to be a weed. It may initially appear to be something beneficial, until it is actually too late to do anything about it. The key lies in the immediate recognition of what is a plant and what is not a plant, or is really just an invading or predatory weed.

Corruption in a business often begins unnoticed, just like the single weed seed growing wild in a garden. Unfortunately, there is no such a thing as a business that is not vulnerable. Every business is potentially corruptible. Businesses are owned and operated by people, who may not have personal integrity or operate their businesses with integrity. It is up to the owners of the business to begin to build with integrity, right from the start and to recognize as well as root out any seeds of corruption, immediately.

Being aware that there is always the possibility of corruption, is only the first step. The next step involves taking appropriate action to eliminate the early seeds of corruption, that can so quickly take their toll on what might otherwise be a thriving and healthy business.


Completeness


Completeness is an interesting concept, because the question becomes one of whether or not anything is ever truly complete. In terms of a business oriented model, built upon integrity, one can find an example in terms of a simple beehive, commonly found in total wilderness. In itself, the beehive is complete. It lacks nothing in terms of being able to function fully, based upon its own natural design.

Even the most astute contractor or business owner has to recognize the reality that the integrity of the bees, enables that particular 'honey business' to not only survive, but also to thrive. Would it not be wonderful to have a business that could function as well as that of a beehive?

What happens if and when the bees lose their integrity in terms of their orientation? An example of this might be in terms of a forest fire, that threatens their very existence. Their entire sense of base survival takes over, when they are forced to flee. Only the strong can survive and the weak will not survive. The beehive is no longer complete. The 'honey business' collapses, at least at that location.

The integrity of the leader in the beehive is essential for survival. Generally, if the queen bee still has the same integrity in her orientation, that allowed the beehive to be formed in the first place, the others will instinctively follow her to a new location, where another 'honey business' can begin. It will soon thrive.

As you begin your own business, consider the reality that you are a natural leader, or you would not be building your business. You too can build a business based upon integrity. You can build it, so that it has a sense of completeness. That completeness will ensure its growth and survival, regardless of any kind of attack upon it. Remember that you are the leader, not the follower.

Everything that you say or do, will be setting a pattern for those who will follow in your footsteps.

Soundness


Soundness has a multiplicity of implications, in terms of building and maintaining a business. Why waste time or energy constructing anything that is not sound? There are only 'x' number of factors in any kind of a construction, business or otherwise. Out of those 'x' number of factors, perhaps factor 'y' is the only factor that is not a sound factor, that is about to be added to the entire construct. If one is aware that the 'y' factor is not a sound factor, should it be included at all?

Knowing that there is one unsound factor, leads to a decision making process. A number or questions might be asked. Is the inclusion of the 'y' factor, essential to the construct? If it is not absolutely essential, perhaps it should be excluded completely, right from the beginning, as one unsound 'y' factor can undermine the entire enterprise. If it must be included, then the question becomes that of how long will that unsound 'y' factor be present in the construct, before it endangers the entire construct and causes its ultimate collapse?

For example, if that unsound 'y' factor involves a lack of honesty, can a newly constructed 'pillar of truth' stand? No, it cannot. At some point in time, the entire structure will collapse. Truth will stand; untruth cannot stand. In the final analysis what remains standing will be truth.

Again, this takes one back to the integrity cornerstone, with its own four corners of 'adherence to moral principles', 'incorruptibility', 'completeness' and 'soundness'.