Power of ethics cooks up food for thought
By Ted Owen
President and CEO, Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
Ethics in the workplace has always been a benchmark for me, but in today's business environment, it is even more important. Here is a small list of thoughts on that topic for your reading pleasure.
First, let me set the record straight. I did not create the thoughts I am about to pass along, they belong to Ken Blanchard of "One Minute Manager" fame and also to Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.
As I began to read about ethics, I found it very refreshing to remind myself of the five principles of "Ethical Power for Individuals." I think with ethics in the workplace making a comeback, this is a good topic.
The five are Purpose, Pride, Patience, Persistence and Perspective.
Purpose: I see myself as being an ethically sound person. I let my conscience be my guide. No matter what happens, I am always able to face the mirror, look myself straight in the eye and feel good about myself.
Pride: I feel good about myself. I don't need the acceptance of other people to feel important. A balanced self-esteem keeps my ego and my desire from influencing my decisions.
Patience: I believe that things will eventually work out well. I don't need everything to happen right now. I am at peace with what comes my way.
Persistence: I stick to my purpose, especially when it seems inconvenient to do so. My behavior is consistent with my intentions. As Churchill said, "Never! Never! Never! Give up!"
Perspective: I take time to enter each day quietly in a mood of reflection. This helps me to get myself focused and allows me to listen to my inner self and to see things more clearly.
In the area of persistence, I can't help but add a short piece penned by the late Ray Kroc:
Nothing can take
the place of
persistence.
Talent will not;
nothing is more common
than unsuccessful men
with great talent.
Genius will not;
unrewarded genius is
almost a proverb.
Education will not;
the world is full of
educated derelicts.
Persistence and
determination
alone are omnipotent.
Some postscripts of my own come to mind as I review the aforementioned five principles.
My version:
Purpose: There is no right way to do a wrong thing.
Pride: People with humility don't think less of themselves, they just think about themselves less.
Patience: Nice guys may finish last, but usually they're running in a different race.
Persistence: Trying is just a noisy way of not doing something.
Perspective: Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.
Good food for thought.
By Ted Owen
President and CEO, Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
Ethics in the workplace has always been a benchmark for me, but in today's business environment, it is even more important. Here is a small list of thoughts on that topic for your reading pleasure.
First, let me set the record straight. I did not create the thoughts I am about to pass along, they belong to Ken Blanchard of "One Minute Manager" fame and also to Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.
As I began to read about ethics, I found it very refreshing to remind myself of the five principles of "Ethical Power for Individuals." I think with ethics in the workplace making a comeback, this is a good topic.
The five are Purpose, Pride, Patience, Persistence and Perspective.
Purpose: I see myself as being an ethically sound person. I let my conscience be my guide. No matter what happens, I am always able to face the mirror, look myself straight in the eye and feel good about myself.
Pride: I feel good about myself. I don't need the acceptance of other people to feel important. A balanced self-esteem keeps my ego and my desire from influencing my decisions.
Patience: I believe that things will eventually work out well. I don't need everything to happen right now. I am at peace with what comes my way.
Persistence: I stick to my purpose, especially when it seems inconvenient to do so. My behavior is consistent with my intentions. As Churchill said, "Never! Never! Never! Give up!"
Perspective: I take time to enter each day quietly in a mood of reflection. This helps me to get myself focused and allows me to listen to my inner self and to see things more clearly.
In the area of persistence, I can't help but add a short piece penned by the late Ray Kroc:
Nothing can take
the place of
persistence.
Talent will not;
nothing is more common
than unsuccessful men
with great talent.
Genius will not;
unrewarded genius is
almost a proverb.
Education will not;
the world is full of
educated derelicts.
Persistence and
determination
alone are omnipotent.
Some postscripts of my own come to mind as I review the aforementioned five principles.
My version:
Purpose: There is no right way to do a wrong thing.
Pride: People with humility don't think less of themselves, they just think about themselves less.
Patience: Nice guys may finish last, but usually they're running in a different race.
Persistence: Trying is just a noisy way of not doing something.
Perspective: Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.
Good food for thought.