The ManicaPost
Motivation for Success : Arthur Marara
“Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without (integrity), you really want them to be dumb and lazy.” (Warren Buffett: CEO, Berkshire Hathaway). The observations of Warren Buffet cannot be faulted. The success of any organisation is determined by the integrity of the people who preside over them. People are so much confident to deal with people of integrity because they feel safe and secure and they know that their interests are well catered for. The question becomes an interesting one; what is integrity?
Integrity in simple terms is the ability to do what is right when detection or the fear thereof is the least of your worries. Integrity is not concerned with doing what is acceptable, but doing what is right. It has also been defined as the, “the quality of being honest and fair…” or “the state of being complete or whole…” (Merriam Webster Dictionary). In the absence of integrity business will not successful operate, and relationships will not last long at whatever levels. Strangely, we have many people who are good at talking about integrity rather than running with it. This week, I want to challenge you to choose integrity in whatever that you do.
Breaking someone’s sugar habit
Ever heard about the story of breaking someone’s sugar habit? Well if not, I will tell you shortly what it is all about. An interesting story is often told about Mahatma Gandhi, former Indian Statesman and Prime Minister. He was approached by a certain woman whose child had developed an insatiable appetite for sugar.
This became a consistent problem, and she desperately thought of someone who could help her son because all her efforts to redress this situation had proved to be an exercise in futility. In a flash, she realised that her son idolised Mahatma Gandhi so much, and decided to take him there.
“Mr. Gandhi, my child has a problem; he eats a lot of sugar. Can you please talk to him”, pleaded the woman.
This question for some unaccounted reasons invoked a bit of thought and silence on the part of Gandhi who just stared at the young boy.
After some minutes Gandhi replied; “Come in two weeks time, and I will talk to him.”
To the amazement of the woman, Gandhi had not said anything to the young boy as she was expecting. She just left and returned after the two weeks as Gandhi had indicated.
“Do not eat sugar …it is not good for your health,” remarked Gandhi speaking to the young life. When Gandhi had finished talking to the boy the mother looked at him (Gandhi) in awe.
“But… Mr. Gandhi, why did you ask me to wait for two weeks so that you could talk to my child,” she asked inquisitively as most of us would have probably asked in such circumstances.
“You don’t understand madam, when you came that time; I also was eating a lot of sugar”, Gandhi replied with a smile.
Interesting story or even probably humorous, but it emphasises a very important principle of integrity. For most of us, given such a scenario, we would simply retrieve what we learnt about sugar and its side effects and how to possibly reduce the intake without even asking ourselves whether or not we are having the same problem of which we are trying to help other people.
“Preach the gospel always”
Ever head of that phrase, “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words”? Though not used in a strict spiritual sense in this article, the phrase applies in many facets of life. St. Francis of Assisi the author of them was respected for his great piety and holiness, and at one point it is believed that he was on travelling on a ship, the people he was with ran out of fresh water, and they simply lowered his feet into the sea, and they fetched fresh water from the sea.
What the phrase means is that you can actually be an ambassador of a particular brand without using words, and you can only open your mouth when it becomes necessary. In essence, your life and the manner in which you conduct your business should be a message in itself. You can go about telling people about how good you are in a particular field, but if your life is not showing this you are expending your energy in futility.
Strive to be a person of action, and not just words. The majority of corporates are faced with a scenario whereby they exhibit corporate values, vision statements to the public, and yet there is nothing on the ground that shows relation to the words that are often boldly written in reception areas. Often times, some corporate organisations even harass their own employees whom they expect to uphold the values when dealing with strangers. “He is not wise to me who is wise in words only, but he who is wise in deeds.” [St. Gregory].
Let your word, be your guarantee
“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters” [Albert Einstein]. Many people end up being called liars by sometimes not taking serious the small promises they make. If you promise to make a call, follow up on it, if you promise to write a letter; do it, if you promise not to do a particular act; do not do it.
You can never take other people’s words seriously if they just make empty promises, but there are certain people whose words you can take to the bank. Do not build a reputation of misleading people. If you cannot honour a promise, advise in advance rather than to create an inconvenience to other people. “Power is actualized only when word and deed have not parted company.” [Hannah Arendt]
Talk the walk, and walk the talk
“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”
[Marcus Aurelius]. Integrity is not measured by what you say; it is measured by what you do. Great orators are there and will always be there. Oratory is never the substitute for integrity and action. You can be very good at promising and terribly bad at executing.
You need to take a few minutes and travel in your life. What do you teach or ask your subordinates to do? Do you lead by example? St. Francis of Assisi once noted that, “There is no point in walking to preach, until your walking becomes preaching…” What does your life preach? What message can be derived from your life? Here is some bit of advice, “Lead your life so you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.” [Will Rogers (1879-1935); Actor, Comic, Columnist]
Think and Live beyond detection
The reason why people pretend to be working hard is because their boss might knock at their door at any time, not because they actually want to. If you want to grow and be great, you should stop worrying about detection and start focusing on doing the right things. If you struggle with integrity in other people’s companies, there is no way that you are going to win in your own company.
Even if you have tremendous time to spend on the internet doing other things, you can commit the same time to doing the principal work for which you are being paid.
Strive for integrity always
Every new day presents an opportunity whereby our integrity is tested, and sometimes we are actually cornered by the situations. The difficulties of life and the convenience of cutting corners might actually prove to be bringing instant relief. This is the world that we live in, where many people believe that there is no reward in being honest, and that honesty people always finish last.
There is always an easy way out, but the painful route will build you, and prepare you to be stronger than your challenges. It is not easy to live a life of integrity where everyone is compromising, but it is possible. Difficulty is not the equivalent of impossible. Give up, in order to go up.
“Let no pleasure tempt thee, no profit allure thee, no persuasion move thee, to do anything which thou knowest to be evil; so shalt thou always live jollity; for a good conscience is a continual Christmas.” [Benjamin Franklin]
Step out and Stand out
“Neither shall you allege the example of the many as an excuse for doing wrong.” [Exodus 23:2]. Interesting thoughts there from Exodus, which often reflect the defense many people have for doing whatever they are doing today; common practice.
The fact that “everyone is doing it”, does not mean it is right. I do not know what has become a norm in your field of practice or business, but there might be new “norms” that might have developed. You need to stand out and do the right thing; that is integrity. W. Clement Stone (1902-2002); Author, Businessman, shared some insightful greatness thoughts before he passed on, “Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity.”
Join me on Star FM every first Wednesday of the month (09:30am-10:00am) for some moments of inspiration on the Breeze with Tariro and Iyati.
Arthur Marara is an Attorney, Author and Speaker. He is also the author of the Personal Development Toolkit, Keys to Financial Freedom, The Power Within, and Keys to Effective Time Management. Send your feedback to [email protected] or Like his page on Facebook, or Whatsapp: +263 718 867 255
