Ethics Information


Business Ethics: Functional Choices


Years of experience have taught me there is no such thing as "Business Ethics". If a person isn't ethical in the rest of their lives, their business ethics aren't worth the shoe leather they've worn out either.

I stood beside a State Representative at college graduation recently, and heard him tell a gentleman shaking his hand that he had the utmost respect for the President of the college, because he knew who her friends were and they all had good solid "Business Ethics". I raised an eyebrow and continued a conversation with another friend nearby. It was my third College Graduation this year.

At a high school graduation, I listened to the Valedictorian say, "Your values for living all of your life will follow wherever you go." At another graduation, an honorary graduate stated, "Who you are today will be reflected every day of your life, by what you become tomorrow." At another function, celebrating the accomplishment of older students, those who were returning to school after being part of the work force for many years, I heard yet another speaker say, "Your life is marked by dates, one at the beginning, and one at the end, with just a dash in between. A short little dash reflecting who you were, what you accomplished, and the values you held. How important will your dash be?"

As I reflect on these comments, I look back at my own life. Every choice has a consequence. I know, because I've made a few bad choices, along with the good ones. As I look back, I often realize the choices I made that didn't turn out so very well were often made with the influence of other people, so I have to look back further. This brings me back to the comment by the State Representative, about knowing the President of the College's friends.

Sometimes, our choices of friends are the first bad choice of many. We are judged by the company we keep, and ultimately we pay the consequences of the choices we've made, influence by the company we keep. That's a bit redundant - but extremely true. If you desire to be ethical, you live an ethical life, and you choose ethical friends.

What do your friends and your choices say about you?

If personal fulfillment is your goal in life, ethics may appear to be unnecessary. However, you reap tomorrow what you sow today. Pay attention to the seeds you plant.

Copyright © 2005 - Jan Verhoeff

Designing your future requires choices in prescribing your brand, and setting your future. Jan Verhoeff has experience in designing your brand and market performance for business development. Let her expertise help define your business online. Visit her at eBiz Brand Performance.


MORE RESOURCES:

MiamiHerald.com

Gov. Sanford Accepts Fine in Ethics Case
New York Times
Mark Sanford of South Carolina agreed Thursday to pay $74000 to settle charges that his personal travel and campaign spending violated state ethics laws, ...
APNewsBreak: SC gov to pay $74K in ethics finesThe Associated Press
Sanford settles ethics charges, agrees to pay $74000 in finesHilton Head Island Packet
Sanford settles ethics chargesCNN Political Ticker (blog)
The Palmetto Scoop -The State Column -Politico
all 479 news articles »


ABC News

NCAA Tourney Teams Get Grades; Summer School Next?
New York Times
Let's not forget that,'' said Richard Lapchick, director of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida. ...
Graduation rates notedMilwaukee Journal Sentinel (blog)
Cold Hard Fact: Student-Athletes Are Not StudentsBleacher Report
Education secretary: ban teams with low grad ratesThe Olympian
San Francisco Chronicle -ABC News (blog) -NewsHour
all 746 news articles »


NY local governments failing on ethics rules: comptroller
Reuters
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Municipalities across New York state are not complying with rules on financial disclosure and other ethics requirements, ...
DiNapoli: Changes Needed In Municipal Ethics LawsNorth Country Gazette
DiNapoli wants communities to step up ethics enforcementPolitics on the Hudson (blog)

all 20 news articles »




City Ethics Board claims role in Mary Kay case
Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore school system failed to notify the city ethics board of a possible violation in a case involving a principal who recruited teachers to buy and ...

and more »


Ethics Commission: Beach commissioner has no conflict as chamber president
MiamiHerald.com
The ruling came after Libbin requested the ethics commission for an opinion on the matter. Libbin said after the meeting that he will not vote on issues ...
Ethics Commission Fines South Dade Activists For Failing To Report Payments ...Miami New Times (blog)

all 2 news articles »


KansasReporter (blog)

Davis outlines O'Neal ethics case
Topeka Capital Journal
House Minority Leader Paul Davis outlined justification Thursday for a formal ethics complaint filed by Democrats against the Republican ...
O'Neal ethics hearing to begin ThursdayKansasReporter (blog)
Speaker should have known betterKansas.com
O'Neal ethics case to proceedTopeka Capital Journal

all 39 news articles »


Corroon supporting citizen ethics initiative
Cache Valley Daily
The Republican-dominated legislature passed a new ethics bill but Corroon says it does not go far enough and he supports a citizen ethics initiative. ...

and more »


Anderson Independent Mail

Ethics Commission finds Wilson did not violate state law
Anderson Independent Mail
COLUMBIA — South Carolina's State Ethics Commission has found Anderson County council member Cindy Wilson not in violation of state ethics ...
Wilson did not violate state campaign laws, commission rulesAnderson Independent Mail

all 2 news articles »

Google News

internet marketing business
home | site map
©2008  quick and easy ways to make money