When it comes to business, there’s a trap that it’s all too easy for all of us to fall into. I’ve done it, you’ve probably done it, we’ve all done it at some point. That trap is this: that making money at any cost is the name of the game. And while that’s mostly true (that is the point of owning a business after all), there are times where it might just be prudent to sacrifice a bit of profit in exchange for taking an ethical stance.
But how do you know when to take that stance?
Search your feelings. You know it to be true (yes, another Star Wars quote).
Throughout your business life, there will come times where an opportunity will arise that just doesn’t feel right, for one reason or another. It could be because it seems a little shady or unethical, it could be because the person presenting the opportunity seems like they might not be on the up and up, there are countless reasons. Ultimately, none of them are important. What is important is how they make you feel. Take a second. Think. But more importantly, feel. Run the whole scenario over in your head, while listening to what your body tells you. If it’s giving you what I like to call the “no” feeling, then don’t do it. It’s really that simple.
But why? Why take a moral stance rather than taking the money? Well, because it could come back to bite you later. A business opportunity that turns out to be shady (or worse, illegal) could (and probably will) backfire on you. This could put you, and your business, in a compromising position. Your personal reputation could be tarnished, your business reputation could be tarnished, you may face fines, heck, you might even be shut down. And that is just about the worst thing that could happen to you and your Personal Independent Earnings that I can think of.
Humans are by nature intellectual creatures. But your subconscious mind tends to know a whole lot more about what’s going on than your conscious mind does. So don’t ignore it. To do so could put your business, your PIE, and most importantly, you, in jeopardy. So whenever an opportunity arises that gives you a strange feeling, like maybe it just might not be a good idea, go with it. You’ll thank yourself for it later, and so will your wallet.
That’s all for today. Before I sign off, I’d like to take the opportunity to put the spotlight on two of my team members, Tim (my right hand), and Shane (who does a lot of work on this blog, among other things), who will be celebrating their birthdays tonight. Happy birthday gentlemen!
