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. They belong to Ken Blanchard of "One Minute Manager" fame and also 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. 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 get myself focused and allows me to listen to my inner self and to see things more clearly.


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 doing something.


Perspective: Things turn out best for the people who make the way things turn out.


Good food for thought.