Motivational Monday - Lies & Integrity Don't Go Together

Debe Maxwell, CRS - I think of lies as poison. Once it gets into your blood it stays unless you have some divine intervention or something like that. When someone blatantly lies, I see them as a serpent and I avoid them at all costs. 

My dad wasn't in the Navy when I was born but he was regimented and very organized. He had high expectations when it came to house rules and education. Whether or not he was in the reserves or not, is something I don't know. I know my husband was in the Army and he was in the reserves until a week before my daughter was born. He had that same mentality. 

We were told if we lied, my father would wash our mouth out with lye soap. But he never used it on me. He had a way of putting the fear of God into me. I'm convinced, lying is like poison and not only destructive, it attracts other liars. I've seen plagiarizing here on AR and graphics too. I don't understand how these people can get away with it. Who do they think they are fooling? 

I haven't heard that quote by Spencer Johnson before but it's a really, really good one!  

Debe what a powerful message and looks like it got a lot of peoples attention since I am comment #42, need to read the others... I come from a life and family of speaking the truth even if it hurts someone...Endre

Morning Debe.

Congratulations on the feature. Lie to me once, it will take a long time if ever, for me to get over it.

I have been lied to and I have to admit I've taken every subsequent statement from that person with a grain of salt. It's almost impossible to ever regain trust after a lie occurs.

Integrity is crucial. I'm contemplating a brokerage switch right now and the new company's integrity and reputation are going to be a HUGE factor in my decision on where to go.

Character is not so much a word but a condtion...richfuscious

So very true.  I don't even mention that fact to a client because it can put them on guard!

Very timely since we seem to be in an era of extreme lying. It isn't worth but some seem to profit by it. In the end I think it still bites you in the ass.

Hello Debe, I am with you about lies and have a problem with some people for sure.

Honesty isn't just the best policy,

it's the ONLY policy.

- Larry Winget

I think integrity and ethics go together - and you either have them or you don't. I don't think they can be taught OR legislated.

I'm reading between the lines and also reading the comments. I'm sorry for whatever happened in this situation as I know it has disturbed you greatly. Best of luck in resolving this issue. As for your post, the puppy's eyes says it ALL! He looks guilty!

Just finished my Ethics class, ethics is just a small part of it all. Lying to someone can indeed ruin your reputation and is beyond me how anyone can risk it all to do that.  The word "snake oil" comes to mind...

That doggie sure looks guilty, lol.

Good morning Debe Maxwell, CRS, lies will always come out..always. In the world of social media, the ability to type away, I see more and more lies, a fluff of all kinds.  I'm not the type of person to investigate and try to find out the truth, if I smell a "lie", that's it for me. It's much easier to be honest and speak the truth even if it hurts, I guess for some, it has become the way of daily life to tell lies and they don't know how to stop. I see this even more in real estate, agents claiming sales, numbers but the truth will eventually surface.

That is so true, Debe. One of my dearest friends lied to me a few years ago. At dinner one night, I gave him a chance to explain why and to correct himself. He apologized and then lied again. I haven't seen him since. I only have so much room for people in my life, and liars are not welcome. 

We should strive to not even tell white lies if we can help it.  

Well written, Debe Maxwell, CRS. In addition to other reasons telling a lie is bad is that a lie is harder over time as the liar must always remember their story. Telling the truth is easier since no matter when or how often you tell it it's the same.
Bruce.

Lying is a character flaw that will eventually sink the liar's ship! What's wrong with the truth, anyway?

Debe, thanks for pointing out that lying reflects on a persons character. I have always said if a man lies to you he would also steal from you.