Posts from — October 2007

Recently I’ve questioned the ability of members of our society to lead a life of integrity. I’m continually surprised by the sliding scale of integrity that people apply to their daily activities on a regular basis.

This is important to me since I have witnessed the ill results of this kind of approach first hand. I have watched people in my former job throw away successful careers because they had an overwhelming need for approval and belonging, which resulted in them going along with the behavior of the pack—even if that behavior lacked integrity. These people allegedly committed unacceptable, possibly illegal acts because they were “just following orders, doing what their boss told them to do.” Others from politicians to public figures to the person next door have said that those words in the past. The history books have well described how that approach turned out.

I’ve also watched individuals who repeatedly suggested they have the highest-level integrity only to learn that their definition of integrity is loosely translated to include public actions versus what is done in private or as a general life principle.

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