April 6, 2010

What Do You Stand For?   What principles do you stand for at work, at home, and in your community?  They are important for you to know.   Because, what you stand for is the heart of your ethics. What you stand for means identifying your values and then living by them. These values will then guide your decisions to do the right thing even when it might not be the most popular choice by others' standards.    So, what is it you stand for?  Loyalty, compassion, integrity, courage, respect, trustworthiness, responsibility, honesty, kindness are more than just words.  They are deeply held core principles which are not subject to change depending on the circumstances.  They define who you are from the inside out.    "To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest," said Mahatma Gandhi.  He was right.   When you stand up for what you believe in, and live by those standards every day, people will be drawn to you. You'll reap the dividends of increased trust, credibility, and respect in all of your relationships. Cast your core principles aside and trust is lost, perhaps never to be regained.  Which will it be for you?   "There are no moral shortcuts in the game of business - or life.  There are basically, three kinds of people: the unsuccessful, the temporarily successful, and those who become and remain successful.  The difference is character," said Jon Huntsman, Chairman of Huntsman Chemical.  What does your character say about you?   What do you stand for?  How well do you honor those core principles in your life?       "I have found that the greatest help in meeting any problem with decency and self-respect and whatever courage is demanded, is to know where you yourself stand.  That is, to have in words what you believe and are acting from."             William Faulkner   "Be valued and principle based.  Know what you stand for, and live by those standards."             George Fischer, Chairman Eastman Kodak   "I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true.  I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have."             Abraham Lincoln     I often shake my head in wonderment at those who stand firm in their beliefs - for a while - and then cave to outside pressure.  I thought those core principles really meant something to them, but evidently I was wrong.  You can not excuse away your beliefs.  It leaves others questioning what you do stand for, and respect is lost.   Take a stand, yes, and then stand firm.  Those are your core beliefs, after all, aren't they?   Have a fantastic week and stand for your core principles.   Stephanie   P.S.  Defining your values is Step 1 of the 7 Steps 2 a Balanced Life.  The Pick a Card, Change Your Life questions for Step 1 (and all the other steps) can be found here.  Order your set today!     We grow by "word-of-email" so please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone whom you think might benefit from and enjoy it. Thanks so much! Contact Us: stephanie@7steps2abalancedlife.com