I have been looking at my history of choices and decisions this weekend, in light of the economy, the mood of the world, and the lack of integrity and trust that seems to abound.  I have noticed in my own circle of friends and family, people having to deal with defending themselves against unscrupulous and duplicitous behavior.   I won’t mention names, and fortunately I have not had the experience personally.  However, Larry and I noticed a truck all dressed up with a sign about loan modifications — let us save you from yourselves with government money (our money).  That whole business that has sprung up, to get people out of trouble financially who got themselves in trouble, troubles me.  The government is also saving businesses that are failed business models, which is equally troubling.  Where are the natural consequences that come from making poor choices?

I would like for all of us — no, I’ll say that differently — each of us, to answer a couple of questions that I have been dwelling in (and you’ll hear more about in future blogs).

1.  Who do you trust today?  I believe that leaders who are really leaders foster trust, and even when difficult decisions need to be made, even when people need to be let go or hours decreased, those actions are done kindly and with compassion.

2.  How trustworthy are you?  Normally, when one finger is pointing at another, there are three pointing back at — guess who!

3.  How is your integrity?  By that I mean, do you have people to whom you have promised things who are hanging out there, waiting on you?  Is your laundry put away?  I really mean it.  Is your car clean?  Is your checkbook balanced?  Is your desk clean?  Those are the LITTLE integrity  issues, and if we aren’t doing those, how much can we expect the big things to be done with integrity?  Really, how much can we count on you?  How much can you count on me?

4.  What are you tolerating?  In times like these, there is a good chance you’re looking around at what hasn’t worked, but you haven’t done anything about that — and now I’ll bet you are looking around and realizing that you are at the effect of having tolerated them.    I am referring to things like having an assistant that isn’t easy to deal with, and doesn’t seem happy either.  Or processes that were klunky, but you didn’t have time to fix them (the fixing of which would have saved MANY hours, by the way).

That’s probably enough to think about going into the second half of the year, and ending Memorial Day — in honor of all those who died so that we could be free to screw up, and then get responsible and fix it.  We are definitely in this human condition — never more visibly than in these times!