Honesty is the Best Policy!

Are people generally honest? I always thought so until I ran an investment forum nearly 14 years ago. Everyone was in business suits and everyone looked like honest business people. What struck me about this show was that while I was sitting at registration signing people in, I realized that there were many people who either tried to sneak in without paying or tried to convince me that they paid when they didn’t.

I did some work for a local podiatrist who pleaded with me to continue to work for him. When he owed me nearly six months worth of retainers, I asked him for the payment and he promised he would make good on the payment. Six bounced checks later and nearly a year after my firm worked for him, we are still trying to collect. If only he had been honest with me from the start and told me he couldn’t afford our services that I would have had a great respect for him.

Today, I got a disturbing email from a one of my associates. She told me that a vendor we use got an email from a former client saying that the client refused to pay the vendor because the client felt that she never authorized the use of this service. Why would she say this? She authorized the transaction. Was it because she doesn’t want to pay her debt?

Look at the real life situation — Elliot Spitzer. Everyone thought he was the most honest man around. And now, he’s being threatened with a prison sentence. But what about Patterson? Is it okay to be honest and upfront and tell people things that may not be appropriate to get out?

I always ran my business as an honest business woman. I may have made a bad judgement or two, but I have always kept to my word. If I tell someone something I deliver no matter what. I always felt that your word and your reputation is all that you have so it better be right.