Navigating Integrity in Business: Your Journey, Your Choice

Navigating integrity isn't just about doing business right; it's about doing business *your* way. Tune in as Ed Drozda, the Small Business Doctor discusses the vital role of personal values in entrepreneurship. #BusinessValues #Leadership

Episode Transcript

(00:10):
Welcome to The Water Trough,where we can't make you drink,
but we will make you think.
My name is Ed Drozda, the SmallBusiness Doctor, and I'm really
excited you chose to join mehere as we discuss topics that
are important for small businessfolks just like you.
If you're looking for ideas,inspiration, and possibility,
you've come to the right place.
Join us as we take steps to helpyou create the healthy business
that you've always wanted.

Microphone (Yeti Stereo (00:41):
Welcome back to the water trough.
This is Ed draws to the smallbusiness doctor on this, the
inauguration day for the 47thpresident of the United States.
And on this day, I, like, nearly50 percent of the country and
not feeling very enthusiastic.
I am, in fact, feeling veryuncomfortable.

(01:02):
I have a great deal ofapprehension about what is to
come in the next 4 years and.
Perhaps beyond, but this is nota political story that I'm about
to tell.
It's not a politicalconversation.
I'm looking to have here, butrather a conversation about you

(01:22):
in small business and what yourposition is on integrity and
your own character in theconduct of your business.
I realize that it's hard toseparate the two of these things
and not sound as if this is apolitical statement.

(01:45):
I do not have issues with thepotential for what this
president might do for theUnited States.
I have issues with theindividual, with his character.
And I cannot reconcile thosethings with my own That is why I

(02:05):
am compelled to have thisconversation today with those of
you who choose to listen.
I've always felt that integritybegins with me.
That is, that my understandingof myself, my approximation of

(02:25):
my life events with my values isthe basis for the integrity.
That I develop and that Idisplay when it comes to
integrity in business, I firmlybelieve, that people should be
fully.
In this manner, we, the personswho purchase from them, work

(02:51):
with them, and so on and soforth, know what we're getting.
We're aware of what we'regetting.
There's no smoke and mirrors.
Things are straightforward.
Now I realize that it's notalways quite so simple as that.
There's always going to be somedegree of conversation that is

(03:12):
designed to mask certain aspectsof our own persona or the things
that are going on in ourbusiness.
As humans, regretfully or not,we can't avoid those things.

Microphone (Yeti Stereo Mi (03:27):
Rest assured, perfection is not a
human trait.

Microphone (Yeti Stereo Mic (03:31):
and so with that in mind, integrity
does come with a variety ofconditions, But I think when we
put our best intentions forward,when our values are So it's not
simply to serve ourselves, butto also serve those with whom we
engage that we are as close aspossible to working with

(03:56):
integrity.
This to me is critical.
It's not reasonable for me tocondemn others who do things
differently than me, who seethings differently than me, but
it does.
agitate me.
It does make it very difficultfor me.

(04:17):
I know that selectively thereare people with whom I will not
be able to engage.
And the reasons for thistypically revolve around values.
People who do not approximate myvalues, are very difficult for
me to understand.
Now, in an ideal situation, anideal world, there'd be

(04:39):
conversations around thosethings, and we could discuss why
we have differences in values.
But that's not something that wedo anymore.
We're beyond that Unfortunately,now it's my way or the highway,
and that's as far as it goes forthose of us in business.
We then have the option of who.

(05:00):
To have as our audience and anaudience can consist of the
people to whom we sell our goodsand services, the people with
whom we engage, i.
e.
our networking and ourcommunity, our suppliers and so
on and so forth,

Microphone (Yeti Stereo Micr (05:18):
To take it 1 step further.
It's critical in business thatwe have the capacity.
To engage with our audiencemembers and it's important also
to identify the fact thatperhaps sometimes we're not able
to do.
So a number of things come tomind.
about the businesses that willnot serve others for various

(05:43):
reasons, among which might besame sex marriage and things of
that sort.
A profoundly divisive sort ofcircumstance, but fundamentally
one that violates the values of

Microphone (Yeti Stereo (05:58):
Certain people and leaves them in a
position where they can'teffectively serve a particular
clientele.

Microphone (Yeti Stereo Mi (06:07):
Now, I cannot and I do not at all
advocate for those sorts ofvalues, but I

Microphone (Yeti Stereo (06:16):
Accept that values such as these, can,
and do, exist.

Microphone (Yeti Stereo Mic (06:21):
And I think it's important for
business people to appreciatethat those things result in
blatant biases.
These blatant biases effectivelyreduce our ability to be
effective business people.
I think it's reasonable to saythat if I'm fundamentally out of

(06:44):
character with my values thatthose blatant biases will
prevent me from being a businessperson who's working in
integrity.

Microphone (Yeti Stereo Mi (06:54):
This leads to a lot of questions, a
lot of head scratching as far asI'm concerned.
How important are my values?
How important is their relationto my character and the way that
I present myself and mybusiness?
In other words, how important isintegrity to me in my business?
I think it's fair to say thatmost of us would consider

(07:17):
integrity to be an integral partof our construct.
And for those of us for whom itis that way, This brings a lot
of things forward to thinkabout.
It's not just simply enough togo about doing what we do and
doing it well.
It's about doing so in a Mannerthat we feel good about.

Microphone (Yeti Stereo (07:43):
You've heard the old saying, How can
you possibly sleep at night?
Well, then also consider thecorollary.
I can sleep at night.

Microphone (Yeti Stereo (07:52):
Because I feel good about what I do.
I'm confident that I'm doing theright thing.

Microphone (Yeti Stereo Micr (07:57):
So I hope you'll take some time to
think about the things that I'vementioned here.
I admit, it's a little bitdeeper, a little bit more,
perhaps, grating.

Microphone (Yeti Stereo M (08:08):
Maybe even more so at this present
time in our development as acountry and as individuals.
But I hope you'll give itconsideration.
I think that there's somethingto be said for integrity
personally, and I challenge youto decide for yourself what it
means to you to define how thatwill play out in your business.

(08:30):
And to use that as a guide as tohow you conduct your business as
well.
This is Ed Draws to the SmallBusiness Doctor, and until we
meet again here at theWatertroff, I want to wish you a
healthy business.