business ethics: A word on Ethics...a Notary Signing Agent's Best Friend - 03/22/12 06:32 AM
   Now, after having seen our world through the prism of a downward spiraling economy, and with major businesses having failed or having been reorganized and/or downsized, the challenge to maintain standards and to practice ethical behavior is compounded.  While our leaders debate the pros and cons of plans to rebuild and fortify our economy, average Americans react to job losses, higher tax burdens and they begin to emerge from their bunkers where they had gone to hunker down to ride out the storm.
     During times of challenge, it seems that others more desperate than ourselves are well poised to prey upon us and pull us … (6 comments)

business ethics: Telephone use...and patience? - 05/31/11 06:11 AM
Each independent business person, must choose their own method of operations with regard to telephone etiquette.  I dislike (and find it quite rude) interrupting a borrower, who may be signing a multi-million dollar transaction before me, to pause and answer a call from an unknown entity.  While they may be calling to inquire about appointment-setting or pricing and I certainly hope to gain their business, I wish to offer my client my full and undivided attention.  I monitor my phone by glancing at the phone when it rings but unless it is someone involved in the package I'm signing, they will … (1 comments)

business ethics: Service providers Hate to say "NO" but sometimes we must. - 03/27/11 09:30 AM
Anyone remember six months ago? That was when all the news reporting agencies were abuzz with stories about the intrusive TSA screenings and the pros and cons of privacy and the boundaries of pat-downs and X-ray technology that over-exposed us.  It was the fodder for late-night comics and others.  Perhaps we silly Americans have been spoiled for too long and have had far too little appreciation for these and other conveniences and we have truly taken it all for granted. 
 
Why is it that we seem happiest when we let others do the thinking for us?  Take for instance … (1 comments)

business ethics: The FIRST rule of ...Advertising? - 01/28/11 04:57 AM
First: Do no harm.
 
Sure, it sounds an awful lot like the words attributed to a Doctor's Hippocratic Oath.  This "oath" is widely believed to include the words written above.  But alas, it does not.
 
A better place for these words it would seem, is with those who accept our advertising dollars.  As paid allies in our daily struggle to improve our top-line sales, attract clients and to thoughtfully display our wares in a manner appealing to prospective customers, their responsibility is to help us NOT hurt us.  
Business people spend their workday trying desperately to drive dollars from the … (4 comments)

business ethics: Choose wisely. Consider not just the source, but perhaps their motivation too! - 01/11/11 08:09 PM
A few years ago, I remember being greatly annoyed with a National Organization for Notaries where I was a member.  This organization is supposed to be dedicated to the promotion of excellent notarial practice and the support of it's membership. As a member, I soon found that their true interest seemed to be the almighty dollar.  
I am all for capitalism.  But what disturbed me was the way in which this "support" organization was taking steps to drive dollars to their bottom line while at the same time causing harm to their paying members.  As with many organizations, once you … (3 comments)

business ethics: Ethics maintained and reinforced is a recipe for success! - 06/29/10 07:34 AM
     Now, after having seen our world through the prism of a downward spiraling economy, and with major businesses having failed or having been reorganized and/or downsized, the challenge to maintain standards and to practice ethical behavior is compounded.  While our leaders debate the pros and cons of plans to rebuild and fortify our economy, average Americans react to job losses, higher tax burdens and they begin to emerge from their bunkers where they had gone to hunker down to ride out the storm.
     During times of challenge, it seems that others more desperate than ourselves are well poised to prey upon us and pull us … (0 comments)

business ethics: Politics are sometimes my weakness...and sometimes I slip! - 04/21/10 03:32 PM
But, I hope that you will take me for who I am and more importantly, whom I hope to be: (a good and decent human being with faults, passions and compassion for everyone I meet). 
So sue me.  I'm passionate about politics and patriotism and I have strong beliefs.  I've always believed that those are traits to be celebrated.  Yet once in a great while, I "pop-off" on social media because I don't have enough places to let off the steam of that passion.  Invariably, I pay the price by losing a customer or somehow offending those with beliefs different than my own.
… (6 comments)

business ethics: Establishing and maintaining ethical standards in challenging times. - 02/25/09 06:03 AM
     Seeing our world through the prism of a downward spiraling economy, and with major businesses poised to fail or be reorganized and/or downsized, the challenge to maintain standards and to practice ethical behavior is compounded.  While our leaders debate the pros and cons of plans to rebuild and fortify our economy, average Americans react to job losses, higher tax burdens and they begin to hunker down to ride out the storm.
     During times of challenge, it seems that others more desperate than ourselves are well poised to prey upon us and pull us toward bending both our own standards and in some cases … (2 comments)

business ethics: Three Rules of Management (Perception v.s. Reality) - 10/02/08 07:02 AM
In a 25 year career as a middle-manager in the restaurant business, I gave this speech once to each of the hundred-or-so persons I personally hired each year.  I told them:
Our Company has many policies and procedures that will make or break your career based upon how you act upon them during your time spent working here.
 
Beyond THOSE rules, I have only 3 rules that must be adhered to in order to avoid termination:
1. DON'T LIE TO ME
     Regardless of any problem we are addressing on a daily basis within the operation, a lie creates an entirely "NEW" problem/issue that … (2 comments)

business ethics: Translating 'Vows of Love' to improve your business life... - 10/02/08 05:34 AM
Love is patient.
     awaiting success will test the boundaries of that patience.
 Love is kind.
     being kind is not so difficult, yet we easily forget to be.
 It does not envy
     it celebrates the successes of your competitors and learns from others only what you'd aspire to be.
     it does not boast,
     but rather allows the production to speak for itself.

It is not proud.
     be not proud of your business, but rather confident in your ethical treatment of others in the course of operating your business.
It is not rude,
     … (2 comments)

business ethics: Don't want what I'm offering? That's OK, ...but why so rude? - 09/02/08 05:17 AM
I've continued utilizing my marketing skills through this rough market and found that many simply are not looking for the skillset I offer.  That's O.K.  I mean, that's the gamble of marketing.  You put yourself or your business on the block and offer what you do or sell to the potential client.  Sometimes, they will pick you.  Sometimes they will not.
I gave you that preface to tell you this story:
I have some long-term clients who are mortgage brokers and partners and also brothers.  They, like all of us, have seen the ups and downs of the market.  Still, whenever they have … (8 comments)