LOVE WORKS DAILY 05/16/07 - INTEGRITY PART 1
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Love Works Daily
May 16, 2007, 11:14:06 AM5/16/07
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LOVE WORKS DAILY 05/16/07 - INTEGRITY PART
1
May is here, and love is in the air...well, actually
Love is always in the air...if you just take the time
to stop and breathe some in! Love to you!
INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT:
(Great Thoughts By History's Inspired Thinking Men and Women)
(Great Thoughts By History's Inspired Thinking Men and Women)
Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were
watching.
watching.
- Thomas Jefferson
TIM's BLOG
(Random Thoughts and Tim's Daily World):
(Random Thoughts and Tim's Daily World):
Hi all and Happy Wednesday. I appear to be on a SERIES kick
lately. Over the last few and next few weeks I am running
multipart series on the 4 Questions, The Words of Love, and now
rerunning a popular series from 2005 on the meanings and
applications of Integrity. A word that means a tremendous
amount to me.
lately. Over the last few and next few weeks I am running
multipart series on the 4 Questions, The Words of Love, and now
rerunning a popular series from 2005 on the meanings and
applications of Integrity. A word that means a tremendous
amount to me.
I hope you have enjoyed these series. They are in many
ways more informative than offering particular new insight.
The information comes from sources outside me, which I like,
but I they add some depth to things we have discussed otherwise.
ways more informative than offering particular new insight.
The information comes from sources outside me, which I like,
but I they add some depth to things we have discussed otherwise.
Anyways...have a great day....
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
(Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)
(Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)
Integrity.
There is a word you don't hear used often.
I wonder if it isn't also a concept we don't see in action
as much we should, either.
as much we should, either.
In the past, a persons word was their bond. Of course, now we request
to see that a worker is BONDED before we take their word.
to see that a worker is BONDED before we take their word.
INTEGRITY
Today is day #1 in a series of letters on various definitions of
the word.
the word.
1. possession of firm principles: the quality of possessing and
steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards
steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards
Do we now assume that a person has integrity? Or do we assume that they
do not. In this mixed up world of "trust nobody", integrity seems to
have become an ancient concept.
do not. In this mixed up world of "trust nobody", integrity seems to
have become an ancient concept.
We have recently purchased an answering machine for our home
telephone.
It was a hard decision, and now we chose to screen many of our phone
calls due to the lack of integrity of the individuals and companies that
call us. We now ASSUME the caller is a con artist or sly solicitor. We
used to assume when we picked up the phone that someone was calling us
we wanted to talk to.
It was a hard decision, and now we chose to screen many of our phone
calls due to the lack of integrity of the individuals and companies that
call us. We now ASSUME the caller is a con artist or sly solicitor. We
used to assume when we picked up the phone that someone was calling us
we wanted to talk to.
As business owners, my wife and I have struggled with the concept of
integrity. We regularly buy and sell merchandise from and to the
general public. When the business first started 15 years ago, I was
able to take people at their word. When they brought an item in to
sell, I assumed it belonged to them, and purchased it for cash for a
fair amount. Today, the police department requires valid photo ID, we
fill out a detailed report on the items purchased which we have
customers sign (even customers I have known personally for years), we
submit the reports daily to the police department, and retain the items
for 10 days while the criminal check goes though on the items purchased.
integrity. We regularly buy and sell merchandise from and to the
general public. When the business first started 15 years ago, I was
able to take people at their word. When they brought an item in to
sell, I assumed it belonged to them, and purchased it for cash for a
fair amount. Today, the police department requires valid photo ID, we
fill out a detailed report on the items purchased which we have
customers sign (even customers I have known personally for years), we
submit the reports daily to the police department, and retain the items
for 10 days while the criminal check goes though on the items purchased.
Granted, fifteen years ago there were criminals and people did
occasionally sell us a stolen item. But 15 years ago, we assumed the
best....and now we are required, by law, to assume the worst. What
happened to integrity?
occasionally sell us a stolen item. But 15 years ago, we assumed the
best....and now we are required, by law, to assume the worst. What
happened to integrity?
We are often asked why we pay so much for the items we buy, and why we
don't sell the items for more. Many folks in the second hand
business advised us that if we could somehow get the
items for free or almost free, we could sell them for any price and make
a huge profit. We could tell a customer, for example, that an item
was old and worthless, and pay them $1.00 for it.
(Boy, this ticked me off when it happen to me in Salem once with
a rare Beatles item)
The following day, we could put this item in the main display case with
the price $39.95 on it and the words RARE FIRST EDITION.
Not at all an uncommon practice amongst dealers of used and rare
item. We would end up selling that item, and we get our
astronomical mark-up, but we lost the customer we bought it from
forever when that individual came in later that week and saw the huge
price tag on his "worthless item". We would have permanently damaged her
integrity in the community. For a few years, we would make good profits and
enjoyed our business. After awhile everyone would stop coming in and
we would never know why.
don't sell the items for more. Many folks in the second hand
business advised us that if we could somehow get the
items for free or almost free, we could sell them for any price and make
a huge profit. We could tell a customer, for example, that an item
was old and worthless, and pay them $1.00 for it.
(Boy, this ticked me off when it happen to me in Salem once with
a rare Beatles item)
The following day, we could put this item in the main display case with
the price $39.95 on it and the words RARE FIRST EDITION.
Not at all an uncommon practice amongst dealers of used and rare
item. We would end up selling that item, and we get our
astronomical mark-up, but we lost the customer we bought it from
forever when that individual came in later that week and saw the huge
price tag on his "worthless item". We would have permanently damaged her
integrity in the community. For a few years, we would make good profits and
enjoyed our business. After awhile everyone would stop coming in and
we would never know why.
I could never explain the value of integrity to some people. They just
didn't
get it. To them, it was free market economy. To them, that meant buy
as low as possible, sell as high as possible and say or do anything to
accomplish this goal. I tried to explain that repeat business would pay
more over time, and that they should not use these clearly deceptive
business practices, but they would not hear it, and eventually most went out
of business. Many only lasted a few months and right down to the end,
they would argue it was the customers obligation to look out for themselves. Buyer
beware. Seller beware.
get it. To them, it was free market economy. To them, that meant buy
as low as possible, sell as high as possible and say or do anything to
accomplish this goal. I tried to explain that repeat business would pay
more over time, and that they should not use these clearly deceptive
business practices, but they would not hear it, and eventually most went out
of business. Many only lasted a few months and right down to the end,
they would argue it was the customers obligation to look out for themselves. Buyer
beware. Seller beware.
None of our competition in our local area has survived more than a
year or two as a result of poor word of mouth.
year or two as a result of poor word of mouth.
We won't do it. We've been in business for a long time (almost 20
years)
because we can be trusted. We pay the fair market price, we sell for the fair market
price. We offer great service and satisfaction guarantee as part of the
deal, and we KEEP our customers. They come back.
because we can be trusted. We pay the fair market price, we sell for the fair market
price. We offer great service and satisfaction guarantee as part of the
deal, and we KEEP our customers. They come back.
We did not get rich quick (actually haven't gotten rich at all)
financially, but we make an honest living....and can end each day with
integrity.
financially, but we make an honest living....and can end each day with
integrity.
When we buy an item for $1 we sell it for $2 (in most cases), and
that is a large mark-up by any standard. (Some are still offended
and confused that we don't sell the item for $1, and feel we ripped
them off by marking it up at all...but that is another story, a
customer simply not understanding that businesses mark things up
for profits...it's what they do...how they survive)
that is a large mark-up by any standard. (Some are still offended
and confused that we don't sell the item for $1, and feel we ripped
them off by marking it up at all...but that is another story, a
customer simply not understanding that businesses mark things up
for profits...it's what they do...how they survive)
Our customers have come to trust us, and being trusted in one of the
most important factor in the long term success of a business.
most important factor in the long term success of a business.
I may not have come by such a high standard, except by watching others
else exhibit such low ethical practices. And many times, I have been
tempted (especially when the pork-n-beans and ramen noodles
got pretty tiring) to grab the quick buck.
else exhibit such low ethical practices. And many times, I have been
tempted (especially when the pork-n-beans and ramen noodles
got pretty tiring) to grab the quick buck.
I think to myself, "They have no idea that a Traveling Wilbury's
CD is worth $40"....I could just offer $1....after all Seller Beware...
Right?
CD is worth $40"....I could just offer $1....after all Seller Beware...
Right?
I've been fortunate to resist the temptation, and stand up for my
INTEGRITY.
INTEGRITY.
Because I believe that INTEGRITY, is a richness that will stick with you
for a lifetime. INTEGRITY pays and pays again.
for a lifetime. INTEGRITY pays and pays again.
And even if you are not a professional or business person, personal
integrity can make all the difference.
integrity can make all the difference.
It takes only a single act, or a single word, to lose a customer (or
friend) forever.
friend) forever.
After that....a million actions and words may never get them back.
Have INTEGRITY...and do the right thing today!
Love to you today!!!
Love is the ONLY answer...because LOVE WORKS!!!
Love In Thought! Love In Word! Love In Action!
Love To You Today!
"May we endeavor today to increase our understanding and appreciation of
what others have given and contributed to us. And develop constant,
mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will BENEFICIALLY
CONTRIBUTE to others"
what others have given and contributed to us. And develop constant,
mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will BENEFICIALLY
CONTRIBUTE to others"
The best to you today in discovering the answers to life's difficult
questions!
questions!
A Final Thought:
Love is always the right thing to do. Even if it isn't the easiest
thing to do.
thing to do.
May we have compassion for the struggles of others, wisdom to
acknowledge our own, and courage to address them both every day.
acknowledge our own, and courage to address them both every day.
Respectfully,
Tim
Tim
This is a daily newsletter of LOVE WORKS DAILY:
A collective of individuals of different beliefs and
backgrounds, dedicated to a better world by living LOVE in thought,
word and action. Compassion. Wisdom. Courage.
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Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.
Peace be with you.
From LOVE WORKS DAILY 10/21/05
(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry
(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry
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