To have integrity is to always do that which you believe to be right and true to who you are. Few people actually live this way. On a daily basis we are tempted with opportunities to stretch the truth or serve ourselves at someone else’s expense.
To be an effective leader over a long period of time, you must develop and live by a set of personal rules that you absolutely will not violate. Some people turn to religion for these standards. Others just formulate their own ethics. Wherever you get your values, be sure to stick to them. If you do, you will never have to worry about the decisions you make. Someone once told me that if you always tell the truth, you’ll never have to remember what you said. The truth may not always be the most profitable and is often the most uncomfortable choice. Over the long haul, however, living with complete integrity and sticking to you guns will give you a sense of peace and self-respect that will serve you far better than any amount of money or short-term benefits.
