As kids, we’re told that good people keep promises. We’re taught it in school and church; we read it in books and advertisements; we even hear it in Disney movies. Somewhere along the way, Western business culture forgot the importance of keeping promises.
Nowadays, being true to your word almost seems old-fashioned. The modern corporate world has a general culture of flakiness; unreliability is not only acceptable but also a sign of seniority.
Add to that the “instant gratification” nature of our digital era and the bombardment of competing priorities, and we have ourselves a trustless society.
In that sort of environment, showing that you’re a person of integrity — who people can count on to do what you say you will do — is a great way to stand out from the crowd.
How I lost (and found) my way
Gaining a foothold in commercial real estate meant sacrificing significant chunks of my integrity. I had to learn the tricks of the trade and use them to outpace the competition.
It meant prioritizing opportunities based on potential profits, keeping multiple competing commitments, being late to almost everything I did and treating deadlines like suggestions.
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