September 2008
Don't Lose the Sale!
The manager hurried to the customer and said, "Don't worry, I promise we'll have it by next week!"
When the customer left, the manager scolded the sales associate. "Don't ever tell customers we don't have something. Tell them it's on order! What did he want?"
"Rain."
Honest Abe
Abraham Lincoln's stepmother once said, "He never told me a lie in his life, never evaded...nor turned a corner to avoid any chastisement or other responsibility...."
Be Honest in "Little Things"
As a young man, Lincoln found employment as a shop clerk in New Salem, Illinois, and began studying law in his free time. One afternoon, Lincoln discovered he had overcharged one of his customers six cents. That evening, he walked several miles to the customer's house to return the money.
Earn a Good Reputation
In 1832, he purchased a store in partnership with William F. Berry. They fell deeply into debt and finally decided to sell the store and pay off their debts. The buyer operated the business for a while and then disappeared-and the creditors turned to Lincoln and Berry. Then Berry died, leaving Lincoln to pay off nearly $1,100.
In twelve years he paid off the entire debt. Because of his integrity, people soon asked Lincoln to act as judge or mediator in various contests and disputes.
Later, when he ran for political office, others encouraged him to avoid controversial remarks-even when he believed such remarks expressed important ideas.
But Lincoln stood firm. He said, "if it has been decreed that I should go down...then let me go down linked to the truth—let me die in the advocacy of what is just and right."
He did lose the election, but that defeat set him on the path to become the sixteenth President of the United States.
- When is it hardest for you to tell the truth? What can motivate you to do the right thing?
- What does it mean to have a "good name"? Who do you know that fits this description?
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Balance Truthfulness
Just as the spokes, hub, and rim of a wheel connect to and rely on one another, each character quality works in harmony with others. Otherwise, your character will wobble.
Do not manipulate the system in order to get what you want. A sincere person does the right thing for the right reason and tells the truth in an effort to benefit the other person.
Responsibility
Do not meddle in an argument that does not involve you. Do not assume responsibility to police others or report them for breaking the rules.
Identify what you should and should not say in each situation. If a friend asks you a question about someone else, say, "Why don't you ask him yourself?"
Words can cause tremendous pain. If you have to say something that is hard to hear, say it respectfully. Do not ridicule others or use the truth as a club. How you say something is as important as what you say.
- If you lie to cover for a friend, what does that say about you?
- Why is it better not to meddle in arguments that do not involve you?
- Why is it important to acknowledge mistakes?
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Character in the News
Visit our news page to read the latest news articles about character.
- "District sees strides in character program" - September 10, 2008
- "Learn about the character training project" - September 4, 2008
- "Be decisive: Work on character" - September 3, 2008
