1. Keep your promises.
2. Don't make promises that you can't or won't keep.
I said that I would expound on My List, which is a set of rules to work by in a small business. There are 60 rules, so more stories and expounding will be coming for a while.
The first two rules are dealing with integrity, the quality of being honest. Everyone likes to think that they are an honest person, what would happen if we all where?
Before I delve into a discussion of the financial benefits of keeping your promises, I'm going to discuss human nature for a bit. I think most people are dual-natured. Everyone is innately good and seeks out a greater good for those that surround them. Everyone is also innately selfish and shortsighted; we want what we want and we want it now. Left unchecked, people generally oscillate between these two positions. So within everyone you have a shortsighted and selfish side juxtaposed to a more long sighted and aware side.
This duality leaves us as business people to fight a constant battle in our minds and hearts as we make decisions throughout the day. Everyone really knows deep down that making and keeping promises is important... but what happens when it comes right down to the wire and you have to sacrifice a little? This is what I'll call crunch time. Its really easy to keep these rules when the money is flowing and you don't have any problems. The real test is when you have to dig down into the trench, hunker down and fight a mean battle; when the income slows down and you have upcoming expenses like payroll. This is where is it vitally important to keep your promises.
If you are viewed as a person with a proven track record of integrity then life in biz is a lot easier. Your employees will trust you when you need them too. Moral will be up because people will know what to expect. Your vendors will be more apt to help you out in a bind if they feel that they can trust you. You will make more money; a culture of promise keeping in your office will give you the confidence to avoid micromanagement and your employees the confidence to put their head down and do their work. Most importantly you can go home at 5 knowing that you haven't screwed anyone that day. Feeling like a worthwhile honest person is one of the most treasured benefits of following the list.
