July 21, 2025 • 29 mins
In this powerful episode of the Inspirations for Your Life Podcast, host John C. Morley explores the essence of integrity — doing what’s right when no one’s watching. From recognizing that integrity is the invisible proof of your character to understanding that private decisions shape public reputation, each lesson uncovers how quiet choices build unshakable trust and lasting leadership. Integrity isn’t about perfection; it’s about consistent truth, resisting temptation, and holding firm to your values even when it’s uncomfortable. True character emerges not in applause, but in silence — and those who lead themselves first, with honesty and high standards, are the ones who inspire others the most. Tune in to discover how integrity can elevate not just your leadership, but your life. 🎙️💫 #ElevateYourLife #IntegrityMatters #JohnCMorley
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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(00:26):
Good afternoon, it is John C.
Morley here, serial entrepreneur.
I'm actually coming to you today from the
library here in Deptford, New Jersey, because I
actually have a meeting with a client.
And yeah, that's the great thing about being
mobile and having all this equipment and being
able to do it anywhere that I am.
I even do it outside sometimes with broadcasting
through cellular, if Wi-Fi networks are not
(00:48):
available.
Well, it's great to be with you.
You know, we kicked off the master topic
just the other day, and that was the
power of presence, how slowing down awakens what
matters most.
And so today's granular topic that we're going
to get into is integrity and action, living
right when no one's watching.
(01:11):
This is series four, show 30, episode number
three.
Hey, guys, if you're coming here for the
first time, I want to say welcome to
you.
Again, apologize for the lighting today.
Again, I'm not in my studio.
Had that challenge with the hotel because it
didn't bring all kinds of lights with me.
Lighting was not the way I wanted, but,
you know, we're getting the message out there.
(01:31):
I know those who are on the audio
podcast don't really notice that, but just wanted
to apologize for you guys out there.
So I am here at the Deptford Library
today, if you guys are wondering, and I
want to welcome you to the show.
If this is your first time, and if
it's not your first time, well, I'd like
to welcome you back to the show.
Hey, and if you have not checked out
(01:52):
BelieveMeAchieved.com, what are you waiting for, friends?
Go ahead and check it out after the
show, that is, at BelieveMeAchieved.com for my
short form and long form content.
If you're thirsty, I just had lunch, so
that's why I don't have anything with me
right now.
Found a local Friendly's, there aren't too many
Friendly's around in the state.
Had a delicious Philly cheesesteak sandwich, which is
(02:16):
basically a Jack cheese, which is really good.
And then a happy ending Sunday, cookies and
cream and hot fudge.
No whipped cream, no cherry, didn't need that.
So again, welcome to everyone and a very,
very big welcome to everyone here and to
another transformative episode of the Inspirations for Your
Life podcast, where I go beyond surface level
(02:37):
inspiration and dive deep into the truths that
shape meaningful, lasting success.
And I am not only your host, podcast
coach, serial entrepreneur, graduate student, engineer, video producer,
and so much more.
It is such a privilege to be with
you here today because I'm exploring a virtue
(02:59):
that doesn't need an audience, but leaves a
legacy.
What is it?
Integrity.
In a world fueled by instant validation and
likes, we often forget that the most powerful
moments happen in silence.
Yeah.
Silence.
I think that's something interesting to think about,
that you never thought that the most important
(03:22):
moments actually happened in silence.
And just to ponder that for, I'd say,
just a moment, I think that's pretty cool
to be able to know what silence is
and to really, I'm going to say, embrace
(03:44):
silence, right?
It's something that a lot of people just
don't realize when no one's watching.
And in this episode, I'm going to uncover
15 truths about integrity that will reshape how
you live and love, even when no one
is looking.
Let's eliminate the quiet power of doing right
(04:06):
simply because, well, it's the right thing to
do.
All right.
So let's dive right into the show.
Integrity is invisible, proof of your character.
And so what you do in the absence
of recognition reflects the truest version of you.
Integrity doesn't announce itself.
It shows up quietly in your choices, words,
(04:28):
and follow through.
You don't need to prove yourself when your
actions consistently match your values.
See, that silent proof becomes your reputation, whether
you realize it or not.
That is a big, big key, ladies and
gentlemen.
And number two is do the right thing,
even when it's inconvenient.
(04:50):
Integrity often asks for a sacrifice.
It may cost you time, comfort, or even
opportunities.
But what you gain in self-respect is
worth far more.
The right thing isn't about something being easy
all the time, but it's always right.
It's in those uncomfortable moments that your true
values step forward and shape the direction of
(05:13):
your life and really emphasize the character of
who you really are.
Number three, character is built when no one's
clapping, no one's watching, right, or applauding.
Applause can be addicting, but character is carved
in the quiet confines.
When you're doing the hard work, making the
(05:35):
tough calls or walking away from shortcuts without
anyone seeing, you're building something far more valuable
than recognition.
You're building unshakable internal strength.
Number four, private decisions create public reputation.
The things you decide in silence, how you
treat others, how you speak when people aren't
(05:56):
listening, how you manage power, these accumulate and
spill over into how the world experiences you.
A trusted reputation is not a marketing strategy,
folks.
Sorry to say.
It's the fruit of a private integrity.
And see, when you are coming from that
integrity, not because you have to, but because
(06:16):
you want to, people then are impressed.
Don't do it for a cheap marketing ploy
because it's just going to burn you.
Number five, your conscience is your truest judge.
Before the world weighs in, your inner voice
always knows.
Are you proud of your choice?
Would you repeat it even if exposed?
(06:38):
Your conscience is the only audience that truly
matters.
And when it's clear, peace follows.
That's important to understand.
Number six, integrity means choosing truth over comfort.
Sometimes telling the truth or doing what's right
can bring discomfort, awkwardness, or conflict.
(06:59):
But integrity doesn't shy away from those things.
It values what's right over what's easy and
chooses long-term respect over short-term ease
or convenience.
Cutting corners cuts into your values.
What feels like a harmless shortcut often chips
away at your values.
And integrity isn't about being perfect.
(07:22):
It's about refusing to compromise your standards for
speed, for status, or simplicity.
Every corner cut is a compromise added to
your character's balance sheet.
You can't afford that.
Number eight, what you allow in secret shapes
who you are.
Even the things no one else knows about
(07:42):
you, the habits, the choices, or silent responses
shapes your inner self.
It's easy to pretend externally, but your inner
world holds the blueprint for the life you're
creating.
Guard your hidden life well.
Strong ethics don't need an audience.
When ethics are genuine, they don't perform, right?
(08:07):
They show up whether people are watching or
not because they're wired into your belief system,
your core values.
We've talked about this before.
Doing right becomes your natural reflex, not a
staged moment, right?
Not a marketing moment.
Number 10, standards matter even when they're unseen.
(08:29):
Having high standards isn't about perfectionism.
It's about consistency.
Whether anyone is looking or not, integrity keeps
the bar high.
It teaches you to self-monitor with pride,
not pressure.
Number 11, your quiet choices echo loudly over
time.
Today's unnoticed decision could influence tomorrow's opportunity.
(08:52):
The world eventually catches up to, well, your
quiet choices.
They may not go viral, but they are
building a reputation that precedes you and speaks
louder than any resume ever could or would.
Number 12, live your values, not just when
it's easy.
(09:13):
Yeah, this is a hard one for a
lot of people, especially those just coming fresh
out of Because their friends say to do
this, and then someone else says to do
this, but then they have that juxtapoint of,
well, if they do this, they could lose
a friend.
Well, that wasn't really a friend in the
first place.
It's easy to act ethically when everything is
(09:33):
smooth and going fine.
The real test comes in the storm.
Will you stand firm when pressured, tested, or
even exhausted?
Living your values under pressure is where true
integrity is forged.
Number 13, temptation tests integrity.
Resistance proves it.
Integrity isn't just about avoiding wrong.
(09:55):
It's about recognizing when temptation comes knocking and
choosing to walk away.
The ability to resist, not because of fear,
but because of purpose shows true inner alignment.
That's important, guys.
Who you are alone is who you truly
are.
When the lights are off and the crowd
(10:15):
is gone, what choices do you make?
What thoughts do you entertain?
That version of you, the raw, unfiltered you,
is the one that defines your true identity.
Open that space with honor.
Number 15, true leaders lead themselves first.
(10:36):
Let me say that again.
True leaders lead themselves first.
Leadership without self-integrity is, well, manipulation.
You can't guide others if you can't trust
your own compass.
Leading yourself, making right choices, setting strong examples,
honoring your word is the first and greatest
(10:58):
act of leadership.
I know so many people that get up
on a pedestal, but yet they don't even
believe the stuff coming out of their mouth.
So if you can't believe what's coming out
of your mouth, how can somebody else do
it?
And if you're doing it for false pretenses,
then guess what?
You're manipulating somebody.
That's not a smart thing, guys.
Not a smart thing.
(11:19):
And I think talking about integrity is something
that a lot of people like to push
under the carpet.
Why?
Well, because they feel that it's not important,
right?
Integrity can be faked.
Integrity can be, well, placated.
(11:40):
And in some cases, you get by with
it.
But if you keep showing up with that
type of bad integrity, you're going to develop
a reputation.
Let's talk about credit for a moment, right?
What happens if you pay a bill late?
Well, your credit goes down.
A lot?
No, but it goes down some points, a
(12:01):
few points.
If you keep doing that, you know what
happens?
Your credit goes down, and then it becomes
harder and harder to recover from that one
mistake.
After you miss two payments, you're down in
three payments.
Well, it's really, really difficult.
I mean, you're talking seven years.
Here's the part of the show I really
like, guys.
I am going to give you, I like
the whole show, but I'm going to give
you a personal lesson or story for each
(12:25):
point that I shared today.
And I'm hoping that this will, let's say,
drive some inspiration to you.
To operate on integrity, even when no one
else is watching.
I think that's a very hard thing for
(12:47):
a lot of people to figure, well, you
know, if I do this or I do
this, you know, no one's going to know.
No one's going to know.
But yes, they are going to know.
You're going to know.
And I think that should be enough.
When somebody else knows, then you've already kind
of, well, disgraced yourself.
(13:09):
Can you recover from it?
Sure.
You can say, look, I made a mistake.
And, you know, life is not about being
perfect, but it's about being honest and doing
the right thing.
You know, how many of us remember being
in our home and maybe we broke something,
right?
We were younger.
(13:29):
And we figured that, you know, we're going
to try to hide it or pass it
upon your brother if you had a brother.
I didn't have a brother.
Maybe you have some friends that came over
and they're like brothers.
So I remember this time.
And then I'll get into some of my
main stories.
But I remember this time when, so we
(13:50):
were playing ball in the house.
You're not supposed to play ball in the
house, but we were playing ball in the
house.
And it was a Nerf ball too, right?
But you know what happened?
The Nerf ball hit.
My friend missed it.
He said a few choice words.
Bam, bam, bam.
And before you know it, this beautiful love
vase by my mom just kind of fell
(14:10):
on the floor and broke.
And we're all like, like, what do we
do?
So like, okay, well, we've got some glue.
We can try to glue it.
So just a FYI, if you try to
glue glass, even with clear glue, it doesn't
really work well.
So let me tell you what happened.
(14:30):
So this was a beautiful vase with a
nice little picture, everything on it.
And we glued this back, which took us
a few hours.
And we figured, okay, we're set.
Well, my dad brings home some flowers.
My mom says, oh, would you get the
vase that's, you know, on the, the, the
(14:53):
curio cabinet, the one that I always liked
so much.
Oh.
And so I was like, are you sure
you want that one?
I can get you another one.
No, I want that one because it'll go
good with the flowers.
Oh, okay.
So I get the vase, put her, she
puts some water in it.
And she brings them to the table and
(15:14):
we're having dinner.
About halfway through dinner, water starts to start
spraying out of different parts, very small, but
then bigger and bigger.
And if I'm like, mom, um, so Brendan
was over today.
He's still here.
And we were playing ball in the house.
(15:35):
She told us not to play ball in
the house.
And well, one of us, Brendan or I
didn't catch the ball.
I'm not sure who.
And, um, well, we broke your vase.
Which one of you?
Well, we're both responsive.
Right, Brendan?
(15:56):
Yeah.
Now, Brendan was the one that actually threw
the ball.
I was the one that missed the ball.
Right.
And we think about that.
(16:17):
I said, mom, I'm really sorry.
I wanted to fix this.
But what I learned is that the more
you tried to cover it up, the worse
it became.
Punishment is often, let's say, non-existent when
there's a genuine admission of guilt.
(16:40):
And it was not done intentionally.
Integrity is invisible.
Proof of your character.
What you do in the absence of recognition
reflects the truest version of you.
Integrity doesn't announce itself.
It shows up quietly in your choices, words
and follows through.
You don't need to prove yourself when your
actions, as I said, consistently match your vibes.
(17:04):
I remember leaving my wallet behind at the
gas station during a hectic road trip.
No one saw me return to that station
two hours later not to retrieve it, but
to return an extra $20 they mistakenly gave
me when I stopped for snacks.
No one expected it, but I did.
That moment reminded me that integrity is like
a shadow.
(17:25):
It's always with you, even when no one
notices.
Pretty amazing, right?
Do the right thing, even when it's inconvenient
or maybe uncomfortable.
Integrity often asks for sacrifice.
It may cost you time, comfort or convenience,
or maybe even your pride.
(17:46):
Years ago, I was offered a partnership deal
that could have brought in major amounts of
money earlier, but the contract had some fine
print I knew wasn't fair to our clients.
Walking away meant turning down a very big
opportunity, and yes, it stung at the time.
But years later, I realized that saying no
(18:07):
built more trust and integrity in our brand
than any flashy deal ever could.
Characters built when no one's clapping or watching.
Don't expect the stage.
I once spent several months mentoring a struggling
intern after hours.
No one knew except him and I.
(18:29):
It wasn't part of my job description, but
years later, he called me to say that
quiet guidance changed the direction of his life.
That's when I realized applause fades, but impacts
echo.
Private decisions create public reputation, right?
The things you decide in silence, how you
treat others.
(18:52):
Once, I overheard a colleague speaking poorly about
someone who had just left the room.
That moment made me reflect and it turned
my stomach.
What do I say about people when they're
not around?
Since then, I made a commitment to speak
the same behind someone's back as I would
to their face, and that shift has changed
how people relate to me.
(19:14):
Your conscience is your truest judge.
Before the world weighs in, your conscience reigns.
There was a time I had to admit
to a client that I'd made a small
error in a report.
They hadn't noticed, but my conscience would let
it go.
I called them the next morning to correct
it.
(19:34):
They respected my honesty, but more importantly, I
could sleep peacefully that night.
What happened?
Well, one of the processing transactions of the
sale actually got doubled.
It was an innocent mistake, but when I
caught it, I could have just let it
go and said, oh, it's more profit.
I said, no, I'm going to do the
right thing and tell them about it and
refund them.
(19:54):
Mistakes happen, right?
But it's our character and how we respond
to those mistakes.
Integrity means choosing truth over comfort, even though
we all like that warm blanket, right?
I once had to fire someone I liked
personally, but they were consistently breaking the rules
and harming our team morale.
(20:15):
The easy route would have been to ignore
it, but choosing that hard truth protected the
entire team, and it told me that leadership
sometimes means being uncomfortably honest.
Cutting corners cuts into your values.
What feels like a harmless shortcut often chips
away at your values and core.
(20:37):
My early days, I rushed a small project
to meet a deadline and skip the testing
phase.
It came back to haunt me.
We had to redo the entire project.
That experience taught me something valuable.
Shortcuts might save time, but they rarely save
you from consequences.
Let's talk about Wendy's for a second, right?
You all remember Where's the Beef commercial?
(20:58):
Many of you may or may not remember
that.
And so they had Where's the Beef, and
then they also had they don't cut corners,
right?
So if you look at a typical Wendy's
burger, right?
They're square, okay?
If you go to another place for a
burger, they're not square.
They're round.
So they're saying we're not cutting the corners,
(21:19):
and that became a marketing thing, but also
went into their food.
So it gave them something that they stood
for and the way they operated their company.
What you allow in secret shapes who you
are.
I used to think no one would notice
if I skipped journaling or meditation now and
(21:40):
then.
But after a few weeks of cutting those
corners in private, my energy and focus dropped.
That's when I realized private discipline fuels public
excellence.
Strong ethics don't need an audience, guys.
Ethics need to be genuine, but you don't
have to prove it to anyone.
Once, while walking in a parking lot, I
(22:02):
saw someone drop a $50 bill without realizing
it.
Now, it wasn't that the bill was just
there, and I picked it up and no
one was around.
I picked it up.
I tapped him on the shoulder, and I
returned it to them.
I think I actually said, excuse me, sir.
Yes, I think you dropped this.
This came out of your pocket.
I did?
You did, sir.
(22:23):
There were no cameras, no thank you needed.
It just felt like the only option.
That's what ethics hardwired into you looks like.
It comes from your upbringing, your parents.
And I think we foster this and push
this on to other people we mentor, whether
they're younger or older.
Standards matter, even when they're unseen.
(22:48):
A standard that my content, whether podcast, blog,
or talk, always adds value, even if only
one person tunes in.
I bring the same energy.
It's not about the numbers.
It's about respecting my audience, my value, myself,
and giving all I have.
That's why I show up every day.
(23:10):
I don't do it because I have millions
of followers or 175,000.
I don't do it for that reason.
I do it because I love inspiring others.
And you know what?
And it helps me, too, to relearn these
lessons.
Your quiet choices echo loudly over time.
Years ago, I gave a fellow entrepreneur some
free advice without expecting anything in return.
(23:33):
Fast forward.
He later referred me to a major opportunity.
I wasn't even chasing it at the time.
Your unseen generosity often circles back louder than,
well, you expect.
Live your values, not just when it's easy.
Anyone can do the right thing when it's
(23:53):
easy, right?
But when it's hard, it's challenging.
That's when it's important, too.
During a family emergency, I was under immense
stress.
I almost lashed out at a colleague due
to miscommunication.
But pausing to realign with my values, in
that moment, preserved a relationship that could have
(24:16):
been damaged for good.
I want to tie this into a lesson
that I'm having right now.
Many of you guys know I'm going back
to my Master of Computer Science, AI.
And we're studying a concept in discrete math
now about basically an if-then.
I'm not going to boil all the conditions.
But my point is that sometimes we look
at one part of the answer, and we
(24:38):
think that's the answer.
We have to realize that there might be
another step that still has to be completed
before we can truly solve.
I think too many people jump to conclusions.
So we have to choose whether it's true,
whether it's false, or whether it's a contingency.
So true means it's always true in all
the conditions.
False means it's always false.
Contingency means sometimes it's true, sometimes it's false.
(24:59):
I think we have to look at things
a couple times from different angles.
And when we do that, you know what
happens?
We start to gain value in ourselves.
Temptation tests integrity.
Resistance will always prove it.
I once had access to confidential competitor pricing
(25:20):
info.
By mistake.
The temptation to peak was real.
But I deleted it immediately.
That moment reminded me that resisting what's wrong,
even when you could get away with it,
is integrity in motion.
So many people out there are just doing
(25:40):
whatever they have to.
And when they see some way they can
cheat or they can get ahead, they do
it.
But then after you reach the goal or
the aspirations like, I don't really deserve this.
You want to feel that you deserve what
you're going after.
Who you are alone is who you truly
are.
When the lights are off, the crowd's gone.
(26:03):
What choices do you make?
What thoughts do you entertain?
The version of you, the raw, the unfiltered
you, is the one that defines your true
identity.
Own that space and honor it, as I
said.
At night, I ask myself, would I be
proud if today was public?
That self-check keeps me grounded.
(26:24):
That me moment.
That one sees how I treat people.
How I handle frustration.
How I spend time.
That's the me I'm most accountable to.
Ask yourself that question now.
If you chose to make today public so
everyone could view it like it was being
videotaped, would you be okay with that?
(26:49):
And if you're not, then maybe your integrity
needs to be adjusted.
Just being honest.
True leaders lead themselves first.
You can't try to lead others if you
don't know where you're going yourself.
Leadership without self-integrity, as I said before,
is manipulation.
(27:10):
People can package it under all different things
because they're CEOs.
They have all these fancy titles.
At the end of the day, they're just
high-paid, glorified manipulators.
You want to motivate and get people to
come along because you believe in it yourself.
(27:30):
I learned early on that if I wanted
to build a team that trusted and respected
me, I had to walk my own talk.
That meant being early, staying honest, and doing
the things well I asked of others.
Integrity isn't about telling people what to do.
It's about showing them how it's done.
(27:51):
And I think the problem with a lot
of leaders in our world is they only
want to tell you.
They don't want to show you.
And the reason they don't want to show
you is because they don't even know how
to do it themselves.
And yet they're expecting you to do something
they don't know how.
There's something wrong with that picture.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur.
Do check out BelieveMeAchieve.com for more of
(28:13):
my amazing, inspiring creations.
You know what, ladies and gentlemen?
I'm going to catch you real soon.
I hope you remember, always live your life
with integrity and it will reward you.
I promise you.
Good afternoon, it is John C.
Morley here, serial entrepreneur.
I'm actually coming to you today from the
library here in Deptford, New Jersey, because I
actually have a meeting with a client.
And yeah, that's the great thing about being
mobile and having all this equipment and being
able to do it anywhere that I am.
I even do it outside sometimes with broadcasting
through cellular, if Wi-Fi networks are not
(00:48):
available.
Well, it's great to be with you.
You know, we kicked off the master topic
just the other day, and that was the
power of presence, how slowing down awakens what
matters most.
And so today's granular topic that we're going
to get into is integrity and action, living
right when no one's watching.
(01:11):
This is series four, show 30, episode number
three.
Hey, guys, if you're coming here for the
first time, I want to say welcome to
you.
Again, apologize for the lighting today.
Again, I'm not in my studio.
Had that challenge with the hotel because it
didn't bring all kinds of lights with me.
Lighting was not the way I wanted, but,
you know, we're getting the message out there.
(01:31):
I know those who are on the audio
podcast don't really notice that, but just wanted
to apologize for you guys out there.
So I am here at the Deptford Library
today, if you guys are wondering, and I
want to welcome you to the show.
If this is your first time, and if
it's not your first time, well, I'd like
to welcome you back to the show.
Hey, and if you have not checked out
(01:52):
BelieveMeAchieved.com, what are you waiting for, friends?
Go ahead and check it out after the
show, that is, at BelieveMeAchieved.com for my
short form and long form content.
If you're thirsty, I just had lunch, so
that's why I don't have anything with me
right now.
Found a local Friendly's, there aren't too many
Friendly's around in the state.
Had a delicious Philly cheesesteak sandwich, which is
(02:16):
basically a Jack cheese, which is really good.
And then a happy ending Sunday, cookies and
cream and hot fudge.
No whipped cream, no cherry, didn't need that.
So again, welcome to everyone and a very,
very big welcome to everyone here and to
another transformative episode of the Inspirations for Your
Life podcast, where I go beyond surface level
(02:37):
inspiration and dive deep into the truths that
shape meaningful, lasting success.
And I am not only your host, podcast
coach, serial entrepreneur, graduate student, engineer, video producer,
and so much more.
It is such a privilege to be with
you here today because I'm exploring a virtue
(02:59):
that doesn't need an audience, but leaves a
legacy.
What is it?
Integrity.
In a world fueled by instant validation and
likes, we often forget that the most powerful
moments happen in silence.
Yeah.
Silence.
I think that's something interesting to think about,
that you never thought that the most important
(03:22):
moments actually happened in silence.
And just to ponder that for, I'd say,
just a moment, I think that's pretty cool
to be able to know what silence is
and to really, I'm going to say, embrace
(03:44):
silence, right?
It's something that a lot of people just
don't realize when no one's watching.
And in this episode, I'm going to uncover
15 truths about integrity that will reshape how
you live and love, even when no one
is looking.
Let's eliminate the quiet power of doing right
(04:06):
simply because, well, it's the right thing to
do.
All right.
So let's dive right into the show.
Integrity is invisible, proof of your character.
And so what you do in the absence
of recognition reflects the truest version of you.
Integrity doesn't announce itself.
It shows up quietly in your choices, words,
(04:28):
and follow through.
You don't need to prove yourself when your
actions consistently match your values.
See, that silent proof becomes your reputation, whether
you realize it or not.
That is a big, big key, ladies and
gentlemen.
And number two is do the right thing,
even when it's inconvenient.
(04:50):
Integrity often asks for a sacrifice.
It may cost you time, comfort, or even
opportunities.
But what you gain in self-respect is
worth far more.
The right thing isn't about something being easy
all the time, but it's always right.
It's in those uncomfortable moments that your true
values step forward and shape the direction of
(05:13):
your life and really emphasize the character of
who you really are.
Number three, character is built when no one's
clapping, no one's watching, right, or applauding.
Applause can be addicting, but character is carved
in the quiet confines.
When you're doing the hard work, making the
(05:35):
tough calls or walking away from shortcuts without
anyone seeing, you're building something far more valuable
than recognition.
You're building unshakable internal strength.
Number four, private decisions create public reputation.
The things you decide in silence, how you
treat others, how you speak when people aren't
(05:56):
listening, how you manage power, these accumulate and
spill over into how the world experiences you.
A trusted reputation is not a marketing strategy,
folks.
Sorry to say.
It's the fruit of a private integrity.
And see, when you are coming from that
integrity, not because you have to, but because
(06:16):
you want to, people then are impressed.
Don't do it for a cheap marketing ploy
because it's just going to burn you.
Number five, your conscience is your truest judge.
Before the world weighs in, your inner voice
always knows.
Are you proud of your choice?
Would you repeat it even if exposed?
(06:38):
Your conscience is the only audience that truly
matters.
And when it's clear, peace follows.
That's important to understand.
Number six, integrity means choosing truth over comfort.
Sometimes telling the truth or doing what's right
can bring discomfort, awkwardness, or conflict.
(06:59):
But integrity doesn't shy away from those things.
It values what's right over what's easy and
chooses long-term respect over short-term ease
or convenience.
Cutting corners cuts into your values.
What feels like a harmless shortcut often chips
away at your values.
And integrity isn't about being perfect.
(07:22):
It's about refusing to compromise your standards for
speed, for status, or simplicity.
Every corner cut is a compromise added to
your character's balance sheet.
You can't afford that.
Number eight, what you allow in secret shapes
who you are.
Even the things no one else knows about
(07:42):
you, the habits, the choices, or silent responses
shapes your inner self.
It's easy to pretend externally, but your inner
world holds the blueprint for the life you're
creating.
Guard your hidden life well.
Strong ethics don't need an audience.
When ethics are genuine, they don't perform, right?
(08:07):
They show up whether people are watching or
not because they're wired into your belief system,
your core values.
We've talked about this before.
Doing right becomes your natural reflex, not a
staged moment, right?
Not a marketing moment.
Number 10, standards matter even when they're unseen.
(08:29):
Having high standards isn't about perfectionism.
It's about consistency.
Whether anyone is looking or not, integrity keeps
the bar high.
It teaches you to self-monitor with pride,
not pressure.
Number 11, your quiet choices echo loudly over
time.
Today's unnoticed decision could influence tomorrow's opportunity.
(08:52):
The world eventually catches up to, well, your
quiet choices.
They may not go viral, but they are
building a reputation that precedes you and speaks
louder than any resume ever could or would.
Number 12, live your values, not just when
it's easy.
(09:13):
Yeah, this is a hard one for a
lot of people, especially those just coming fresh
out of Because their friends say to do
this, and then someone else says to do
this, but then they have that juxtapoint of,
well, if they do this, they could lose
a friend.
Well, that wasn't really a friend in the
first place.
It's easy to act ethically when everything is
(09:33):
smooth and going fine.
The real test comes in the storm.
Will you stand firm when pressured, tested, or
even exhausted?
Living your values under pressure is where true
integrity is forged.
Number 13, temptation tests integrity.
Resistance proves it.
Integrity isn't just about avoiding wrong.
(09:55):
It's about recognizing when temptation comes knocking and
choosing to walk away.
The ability to resist, not because of fear,
but because of purpose shows true inner alignment.
That's important, guys.
Who you are alone is who you truly
are.
When the lights are off and the crowd
(10:15):
is gone, what choices do you make?
What thoughts do you entertain?
That version of you, the raw, unfiltered you,
is the one that defines your true identity.
Open that space with honor.
Number 15, true leaders lead themselves first.
(10:36):
Let me say that again.
True leaders lead themselves first.
Leadership without self-integrity is, well, manipulation.
You can't guide others if you can't trust
your own compass.
Leading yourself, making right choices, setting strong examples,
honoring your word is the first and greatest
(10:58):
act of leadership.
I know so many people that get up
on a pedestal, but yet they don't even
believe the stuff coming out of their mouth.
So if you can't believe what's coming out
of your mouth, how can somebody else do
it?
And if you're doing it for false pretenses,
then guess what?
You're manipulating somebody.
That's not a smart thing, guys.
Not a smart thing.
(11:19):
And I think talking about integrity is something
that a lot of people like to push
under the carpet.
Why?
Well, because they feel that it's not important,
right?
Integrity can be faked.
Integrity can be, well, placated.
(11:40):
And in some cases, you get by with
it.
But if you keep showing up with that
type of bad integrity, you're going to develop
a reputation.
Let's talk about credit for a moment, right?
What happens if you pay a bill late?
Well, your credit goes down.
A lot?
No, but it goes down some points, a
(12:01):
few points.
If you keep doing that, you know what
happens?
Your credit goes down, and then it becomes
harder and harder to recover from that one
mistake.
After you miss two payments, you're down in
three payments.
Well, it's really, really difficult.
I mean, you're talking seven years.
Here's the part of the show I really
like, guys.
I am going to give you, I like
the whole show, but I'm going to give
you a personal lesson or story for each
(12:25):
point that I shared today.
And I'm hoping that this will, let's say,
drive some inspiration to you.
To operate on integrity, even when no one
else is watching.
I think that's a very hard thing for
(12:47):
a lot of people to figure, well, you
know, if I do this or I do
this, you know, no one's going to know.
No one's going to know.
But yes, they are going to know.
You're going to know.
And I think that should be enough.
When somebody else knows, then you've already kind
of, well, disgraced yourself.
(13:09):
Can you recover from it?
Sure.
You can say, look, I made a mistake.
And, you know, life is not about being
perfect, but it's about being honest and doing
the right thing.
You know, how many of us remember being
in our home and maybe we broke something,
right?
We were younger.
(13:29):
And we figured that, you know, we're going
to try to hide it or pass it
upon your brother if you had a brother.
I didn't have a brother.
Maybe you have some friends that came over
and they're like brothers.
So I remember this time.
And then I'll get into some of my
main stories.
But I remember this time when, so we
(13:50):
were playing ball in the house.
You're not supposed to play ball in the
house, but we were playing ball in the
house.
And it was a Nerf ball too, right?
But you know what happened?
The Nerf ball hit.
My friend missed it.
He said a few choice words.
Bam, bam, bam.
And before you know it, this beautiful love
vase by my mom just kind of fell
(14:10):
on the floor and broke.
And we're all like, like, what do we
do?
So like, okay, well, we've got some glue.
We can try to glue it.
So just a FYI, if you try to
glue glass, even with clear glue, it doesn't
really work well.
So let me tell you what happened.
(14:30):
So this was a beautiful vase with a
nice little picture, everything on it.
And we glued this back, which took us
a few hours.
And we figured, okay, we're set.
Well, my dad brings home some flowers.
My mom says, oh, would you get the
vase that's, you know, on the, the, the
(14:53):
curio cabinet, the one that I always liked
so much.
Oh.
And so I was like, are you sure
you want that one?
I can get you another one.
No, I want that one because it'll go
good with the flowers.
Oh, okay.
So I get the vase, put her, she
puts some water in it.
And she brings them to the table and
(15:14):
we're having dinner.
About halfway through dinner, water starts to start
spraying out of different parts, very small, but
then bigger and bigger.
And if I'm like, mom, um, so Brendan
was over today.
He's still here.
And we were playing ball in the house.
(15:35):
She told us not to play ball in
the house.
And well, one of us, Brendan or I
didn't catch the ball.
I'm not sure who.
And, um, well, we broke your vase.
Which one of you?
Well, we're both responsive.
Right, Brendan?
(15:56):
Yeah.
Now, Brendan was the one that actually threw
the ball.
I was the one that missed the ball.
Right.
And we think about that.
(16:17):
I said, mom, I'm really sorry.
I wanted to fix this.
But what I learned is that the more
you tried to cover it up, the worse
it became.
Punishment is often, let's say, non-existent when
there's a genuine admission of guilt.
(16:40):
And it was not done intentionally.
Integrity is invisible.
Proof of your character.
What you do in the absence of recognition
reflects the truest version of you.
Integrity doesn't announce itself.
It shows up quietly in your choices, words
and follows through.
You don't need to prove yourself when your
actions, as I said, consistently match your vibes.
(17:04):
I remember leaving my wallet behind at the
gas station during a hectic road trip.
No one saw me return to that station
two hours later not to retrieve it, but
to return an extra $20 they mistakenly gave
me when I stopped for snacks.
No one expected it, but I did.
That moment reminded me that integrity is like
a shadow.
(17:25):
It's always with you, even when no one
notices.
Pretty amazing, right?
Do the right thing, even when it's inconvenient
or maybe uncomfortable.
Integrity often asks for sacrifice.
It may cost you time, comfort or convenience,
or maybe even your pride.
(17:46):
Years ago, I was offered a partnership deal
that could have brought in major amounts of
money earlier, but the contract had some fine
print I knew wasn't fair to our clients.
Walking away meant turning down a very big
opportunity, and yes, it stung at the time.
But years later, I realized that saying no
(18:07):
built more trust and integrity in our brand
than any flashy deal ever could.
Characters built when no one's clapping or watching.
Don't expect the stage.
I once spent several months mentoring a struggling
intern after hours.
No one knew except him and I.
(18:29):
It wasn't part of my job description, but
years later, he called me to say that
quiet guidance changed the direction of his life.
That's when I realized applause fades, but impacts
echo.
Private decisions create public reputation, right?
The things you decide in silence, how you
treat others.
(18:52):
Once, I overheard a colleague speaking poorly about
someone who had just left the room.
That moment made me reflect and it turned
my stomach.
What do I say about people when they're
not around?
Since then, I made a commitment to speak
the same behind someone's back as I would
to their face, and that shift has changed
how people relate to me.
(19:14):
Your conscience is your truest judge.
Before the world weighs in, your conscience reigns.
There was a time I had to admit
to a client that I'd made a small
error in a report.
They hadn't noticed, but my conscience would let
it go.
I called them the next morning to correct
it.
(19:34):
They respected my honesty, but more importantly, I
could sleep peacefully that night.
What happened?
Well, one of the processing transactions of the
sale actually got doubled.
It was an innocent mistake, but when I
caught it, I could have just let it
go and said, oh, it's more profit.
I said, no, I'm going to do the
right thing and tell them about it and
refund them.
(19:54):
Mistakes happen, right?
But it's our character and how we respond
to those mistakes.
Integrity means choosing truth over comfort, even though
we all like that warm blanket, right?
I once had to fire someone I liked
personally, but they were consistently breaking the rules
and harming our team morale.
(20:15):
The easy route would have been to ignore
it, but choosing that hard truth protected the
entire team, and it told me that leadership
sometimes means being uncomfortably honest.
Cutting corners cuts into your values.
What feels like a harmless shortcut often chips
away at your values and core.
(20:37):
My early days, I rushed a small project
to meet a deadline and skip the testing
phase.
It came back to haunt me.
We had to redo the entire project.
That experience taught me something valuable.
Shortcuts might save time, but they rarely save
you from consequences.
Let's talk about Wendy's for a second, right?
You all remember Where's the Beef commercial?
(20:58):
Many of you may or may not remember
that.
And so they had Where's the Beef, and
then they also had they don't cut corners,
right?
So if you look at a typical Wendy's
burger, right?
They're square, okay?
If you go to another place for a
burger, they're not square.
They're round.
So they're saying we're not cutting the corners,
(21:19):
and that became a marketing thing, but also
went into their food.
So it gave them something that they stood
for and the way they operated their company.
What you allow in secret shapes who you
are.
I used to think no one would notice
if I skipped journaling or meditation now and
(21:40):
then.
But after a few weeks of cutting those
corners in private, my energy and focus dropped.
That's when I realized private discipline fuels public
excellence.
Strong ethics don't need an audience, guys.
Ethics need to be genuine, but you don't
have to prove it to anyone.
Once, while walking in a parking lot, I
(22:02):
saw someone drop a $50 bill without realizing
it.
Now, it wasn't that the bill was just
there, and I picked it up and no
one was around.
I picked it up.
I tapped him on the shoulder, and I
returned it to them.
I think I actually said, excuse me, sir.
Yes, I think you dropped this.
This came out of your pocket.
I did?
You did, sir.
(22:23):
There were no cameras, no thank you needed.
It just felt like the only option.
That's what ethics hardwired into you looks like.
It comes from your upbringing, your parents.
And I think we foster this and push
this on to other people we mentor, whether
they're younger or older.
Standards matter, even when they're unseen.
(22:48):
A standard that my content, whether podcast, blog,
or talk, always adds value, even if only
one person tunes in.
I bring the same energy.
It's not about the numbers.
It's about respecting my audience, my value, myself,
and giving all I have.
That's why I show up every day.
(23:10):
I don't do it because I have millions
of followers or 175,000.
I don't do it for that reason.
I do it because I love inspiring others.
And you know what?
And it helps me, too, to relearn these
lessons.
Your quiet choices echo loudly over time.
Years ago, I gave a fellow entrepreneur some
free advice without expecting anything in return.
(23:33):
Fast forward.
He later referred me to a major opportunity.
I wasn't even chasing it at the time.
Your unseen generosity often circles back louder than,
well, you expect.
Live your values, not just when it's easy.
Anyone can do the right thing when it's
(23:53):
easy, right?
But when it's hard, it's challenging.
That's when it's important, too.
During a family emergency, I was under immense
stress.
I almost lashed out at a colleague due
to miscommunication.
But pausing to realign with my values, in
that moment, preserved a relationship that could have
(24:16):
been damaged for good.
I want to tie this into a lesson
that I'm having right now.
Many of you guys know I'm going back
to my Master of Computer Science, AI.
And we're studying a concept in discrete math
now about basically an if-then.
I'm not going to boil all the conditions.
But my point is that sometimes we look
at one part of the answer, and we
(24:38):
think that's the answer.
We have to realize that there might be
another step that still has to be completed
before we can truly solve.
I think too many people jump to conclusions.
So we have to choose whether it's true,
whether it's false, or whether it's a contingency.
So true means it's always true in all
the conditions.
False means it's always false.
Contingency means sometimes it's true, sometimes it's false.
(24:59):
I think we have to look at things
a couple times from different angles.
And when we do that, you know what
happens?
We start to gain value in ourselves.
Temptation tests integrity.
Resistance will always prove it.
I once had access to confidential competitor pricing
(25:20):
info.
By mistake.
The temptation to peak was real.
But I deleted it immediately.
That moment reminded me that resisting what's wrong,
even when you could get away with it,
is integrity in motion.
So many people out there are just doing
(25:40):
whatever they have to.
And when they see some way they can
cheat or they can get ahead, they do
it.
But then after you reach the goal or
the aspirations like, I don't really deserve this.
You want to feel that you deserve what
you're going after.
Who you are alone is who you truly
are.
When the lights are off, the crowd's gone.
(26:03):
What choices do you make?
What thoughts do you entertain?
The version of you, the raw, the unfiltered
you, is the one that defines your true
identity.
Own that space and honor it, as I
said.
At night, I ask myself, would I be
proud if today was public?
That self-check keeps me grounded.
(26:24):
That me moment.
That one sees how I treat people.
How I handle frustration.
How I spend time.
That's the me I'm most accountable to.
Ask yourself that question now.
If you chose to make today public so
everyone could view it like it was being
videotaped, would you be okay with that?
(26:49):
And if you're not, then maybe your integrity
needs to be adjusted.
Just being honest.
True leaders lead themselves first.
You can't try to lead others if you
don't know where you're going yourself.
Leadership without self-integrity, as I said before,
is manipulation.
(27:10):
People can package it under all different things
because they're CEOs.
They have all these fancy titles.
At the end of the day, they're just
high-paid, glorified manipulators.
You want to motivate and get people to
come along because you believe in it yourself.
(27:30):
I learned early on that if I wanted
to build a team that trusted and respected
me, I had to walk my own talk.
That meant being early, staying honest, and doing
the things well I asked of others.
Integrity isn't about telling people what to do.
It's about showing them how it's done.
(27:51):
And I think the problem with a lot
of leaders in our world is they only
want to tell you.
They don't want to show you.
And the reason they don't want to show
you is because they don't even know how
to do it themselves.
And yet they're expecting you to do something
they don't know how.
There's something wrong with that picture.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur.
Do check out BelieveMeAchieve.com for more of
(28:13):
my amazing, inspiring creations.
You know what, ladies and gentlemen?
I'm going to catch you real soon.
I hope you remember, always live your life
with integrity and it will reward you.
I promise you.
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