It Really Is The Best Policy

It Really Is the Best Policy

Just say a simple, “Yes, I will,” or “No, I won’t.” Anything beyond this is from the evil one. Matthew 5:37

I know a man who used to work in the front office of several teams in the National Football League, rising as high as vice president for one. He was the business equivalent of the “five-tool player” in baseball: he was extremely bright; well educated; comfortable dealing with players, business leaders, coaches, and fans; and was a great ambassador for the team and the league. He quickly grasped the issues facing the league, navigated his team through competitive challenges, and built a strong product for his team’s owner, both on and off the field.

There were many observers around the league who anticipated that he might eventually end up as the next commissioner of the NFL.

He’s now out of the league completely. What happened?

Sadly, he had a hang-up with honesty. He simply couldn’t tell the truth. It got to the point where, on occasion, he even joked about it. Ultimately, however, that character flaw proved to be his undoing, outweighing any assets he brought with him. When people can’t rely on your word, when they can’t trust you, it undermines everything else you are trying to do.

Even sadder is that he was an enjoyable person to be around, as evidenced by his many friends. But at the end of the day, most of those friends proved superficial because they couldn’t trust him either.

Honesty is a component of a person’s character that is remembered far longer than an individual’s words, talents, or accomplishments. All those things can carry a person to a point, but ultimately, without honing that deep core of honesty, they will all be for naught.

Be someone who tells the truth. Let your “yes be yes.” Nothing more and nothing less.

Uncommon Key > Being less than honest with others will permanently mark your character if you don’t change. Any attempt to stretch the truth, be all things to all people, or be “creative” in your truth-telling is a habit you need to change as quickly as possible.