August 27, 2025 • 28 mins
Welcome to another episode of Inspirations for Your Life, hosted by John C. Morley, Serial Entrepreneur and Podcast Coach. Today we’re diving into one of the most transformational principles for life and leadership: taking the hard but honest path. In a world full of shortcuts and easy outs, the decision to stay true to your values is what separates those who live with integrity from those who crumble under pressure. The honest road may not always be the easiest, but it is always the most rewarding.
🌟 Episode Talking Points
1️⃣ 💡 Hardship is guaranteed; steadiness is a choice. Life will always throw challenges our way. The difference is whether we let those challenges shake us, or if we stay steady and grounded. Choosing steadiness builds inner strength and resilience.
2️⃣ ⚖️ Easy path vs. honest path. The easy path might look attractive, but it rarely leads to fulfillment. The honest path requires courage and discipline, but it creates long-term peace and success.
3️⃣ ⏳ Short-term pain, long-term gain. Honesty often stings in the moment—whether admitting a mistake or facing a tough truth. But over time, the gains far outweigh the discomfort.
4️⃣ 🤝 Integrity builds lasting trust. People may forget your words, but they will never forget whether they can trust you. Integrity is the foundation of every strong relationship, personal or professional.
5️⃣ 🧘 Honesty reduces stress and regret. When you live honestly, you don’t waste energy covering lies or managing guilt. Transparency frees your mind and lightens your spirit.
6️⃣ 🎯 Discipline keeps you on track. It takes discipline to stay honest when shortcuts appear. Discipline is the muscle that strengthens your ability to choose truth, even when it’s tough.
7️⃣ 🌱 Small choices shape big character. It’s not just the big moments that matter. Every small, honest decision compounds over time, shaping the person you become.
8️⃣ 🚫 Shortcuts never last. Cheating your way forward may feel like progress, but it never endures. The hard but honest path builds something that stands the test of time.
9️⃣ 🔑 Fulfillment comes from truth. Deep joy doesn’t come from faking success—it comes from knowing you achieved it the right way. Truth fuels authentic fulfillment.
🔟 🛡️ Pressure tests your values. When things get tough, your true values surface. Challenges reveal whether you stand firm or compromise under pressure.
1️⃣1️⃣ 🌟 Honest leaders inspire others. People don’t follow titles—they follow trust. Leaders who choose honesty, even when it’s costly, inspire loyalty and respect.
1️⃣2️⃣ 💞 Real relationships need honesty. Relationships thrive when truth is present. Honesty creates bonds that are strong, real, and enduring.
1️⃣3️⃣ 🛠️ Admitting mistakes takes courage. Honesty is not about perfection—it’s about accountability. Owning your errors builds credibility and earns respect.
1️⃣4️⃣ 🏔️ Challenges prove integrity. Every obstacle is an opportunity to show your true character. The way you handle difficulty says more than any words ever could.
1️⃣5️⃣ 🏆 Respect and trust are earned. Neither respect nor trust can be demanded. They are earned by living consistently with honesty, even when no one is watching.
1️⃣6️⃣ 🔥 Confidence comes from honesty. True confidence isn’t faked—it comes from knowing you’ve walked with integrity. That assurance is unshakable and powerful.
📻 Outro & Call to Action
Thank you for tuning in to Inspirations for Your Life. Remember, the hard but honest path may test you, but it also transforms you. By walking in truth, you not only build trust with others—you build strength within yourself.
Hosted by John C. Morley (Serial Entrepreneur & Podcast Coach). For more inspiration, visit my website, follow on Instagram at JohnCMorleySerialEntrepreneur, or explore more great content at believemeachieve.com.
Listen now: https://podcastscj.podbean.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:25):
Hey guys, welcome to Inspirations for Your Life.
I'm glad you decided to join me here
tonight.
It's great to be with you, actually this
afternoon I should say, and hopefully you guys
are getting lots of value from all the
great programming that I'm sharing here.
And if you're new here, I just want
to say welcome.
If you're coming back, of course, I want
to say welcome back.
(00:46):
Thank you so much for being here with
me.
Really do appreciate that.
All right, guys, if you have not checked
out believemecheat.com, go ahead and check that
out after the show.
It's available 24 hours a day.
If you're thirsty, feel free to go get
yourself some RO water like I have here,
or a snack, another beverage, or something else.
(01:07):
And come on back, all right?
All right, let's get this show started.
But first of all, the master topic of
the week is the hidden rules of real
success.
What light doesn't tell you.
And today's granular topic is this.
Take the hard but honest path.
Series four, show 35, episode number five.
(01:30):
Yes, we are leaving restream.
We are just making some final changes, and
then we will be on to a new
platform.
I know a lot of you guys will
notice the difference.
Well, you probably will because we won't be
crashing as much.
So that is the big, big thing.
We just did a test stream with this
new platform, and it didn't crash or even
(01:50):
hiccup once.
So really excited about that.
All right, guys, so let's just kick right
into the show.
So welcome again to another episode of Inspirations
for Your Life, hosted by myself, John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur, podcast coach, podcast host, video
producer, marketing specialist, engineer, and a passionate lifelong
(02:10):
learner.
Today, I'm diving into one of the most
transformational principles for life and leadership, taking the
hard but honest path.
In a world full of shortcuts and easy
out, sometimes seems like the way to go.
Decision to stay true to your values is
(02:31):
what separates those who live with integrity from
those who crumble under pressure.
The honest road may not always be the
easier one or the easiest, but it is
always the most rewarding.
And folks, I do want to reach out
to you guys.
For those of you that are sending us
emails and wanting to get on the show,
we really do appreciate that.
(02:52):
We're going to have a formal process that
you can go to the website and actually
apply.
Because a lot of people use these automated
systems to just try to get on the
show.
And so we have a full process to
what you need to do.
So if you are just sending us an
email and hoping to get on the show,
that's not going to happen.
There are a few things you need to
do first.
And we do send you an email back
(03:12):
with those on.
So we get quite a few of those
a day.
And I just want to let you know
that if you don't answer those, well, we
will just pretty much ignore you.
Just because we get so many people that
are just looking to get on the show.
And for us, it's not a numbers game.
It's quality, okay?
We don't want everybody.
All right, let's get right into this.
Number one, hardship is guaranteed.
Sayness is a choice, right?
(03:34):
And I think when we can understand that,
it makes a difference, right?
Life will always throw us challenges our way.
The difference is whether we let those challenges
shake us or if we stay steady and
grounded.
Choosing sayness builds inner strength.
And of course, it builds resilience.
Number two, guys, easy path versus the honest
(03:57):
path.
Of course, everyone wants the easy, but that's
not always honest.
The easy path might look so attractive, but
it rarely leads to fulfillment.
The honest path requires courage and discipline.
And it's oftentimes harder, but it creates a
long-term peace and set of success that
you'll be happy you chose.
Number three, guys, short-term pain, long-term
(04:21):
gain.
Honesty often stings, okay, in the moment, all
right?
But you have to realize something about it,
whether admitting a mistake or facing a tough
truth.
But over time, the gains far outweigh the
discomfort.
I think that's a very important thing.
(04:42):
Of course, nothing is easy overnight, right?
Nothing, nothing is easy.
I want to just be frank and tell
you that right now.
Number four, integrity builds, okay?
Integrity builds lasting trust.
People may forget your words, but they will
never forget whether they can trust you.
(05:04):
Integrity is the foundation of every strong relationship,
personal or professional.
So why is it so many people don't
want to live with integrity?
They're lazy, they're looking for that short way
out.
They're just looking to do something that their
friend or someone else is doing, and that
(05:26):
may not be right.
And even though it's quick and you might
get the gold right away, you may have
to swallow your pride because you're actually gonna
get yourself in more trouble and you're gonna
damage more relationships and bridges than you ever
knew were possible.
Number five, honesty reduces stress and regret.
(05:49):
When you live honestly, you don't waste energy
covering lies or managing guilt, right?
I always say that if you do lie
once, you have to lie again and another
and another and another.
And eventually you're gonna forget all the lies
you tell, right?
Transparency frees your mind and lightens your spirit.
So why not just be honest from the
(06:09):
get-go?
Number six, discipline keeps you on track.
It takes discipline to stay honest.
When shortcuts appear, discipline is a muscle that
strengthens your ability to choose truth, even when
it's tough, all right?
I know it's not easy.
Number seven, small choices shape big character.
(06:31):
It's not just the big moments that matter,
guys.
Every small, honest decision compounds over time, shaping
the person that you know you wanna become.
Number eight, guys, shortcuts never, ever, ever last.
Cheating your way forward may feel like progress,
but it never endures anything.
(06:53):
The hard but honest path builds something that
stands the test of time.
Number nine, fulfillment comes from truth.
Deep joy doesn't come from faking success.
It comes from knowing you achieved it the
right way.
Truth fuels authentic fulfillment, and that's something to
(07:15):
realize.
Number 10, pressure tests your values.
When things get tough, your true values surface.
Challenges reveal whether you stand firm or compromise
under pressure.
Number 11, guys, honest leaders inspire others.
(07:36):
People don't follow titles.
They follow trust.
Leaders who choose honesty, even when it's costly,
inspire loyalty and respect.
I think that's important to know.
Number 12, real relationships, they require honesty.
(07:56):
Relationships thrive when trust is present.
Honesty creates bonds that are strong, real and
very enduring.
Number 13, admitting mistakes takes courage.
Honesty is not about perfection.
It's about accountability, owning your errors, building credibility,
and earning respect.
The more you do this, the easier it
(08:17):
will be, and the more people will trust
you.
Number 14, challenges prove integrity.
Every obstacle is an opportunity to show your
true character.
The way you handle difficulty says more than
any words ever could.
Number 15, respect and trust, they're earned.
(08:41):
They're not given.
They're not bought.
Neither respect nor trust can be demanded upon.
They are earned by living consistently with honesty.
Even when no one is watching, that's when
it's just as important to be honest, to
be living a life of integrity.
(09:01):
Number 16, confidence comes from honesty.
True confidence isn't fake.
It comes from knowing you've walked with integrity.
The assurance is unshakeable, and it's powerful, guys.
I know that you might just want to
live that easy way, just like, oh, it's
going to be so easy and be so
simple.
But the truth of the matter is, you're
(09:23):
going to have regrets.
And if you could just live with integrity
and honesty and take the hard but the
honest path first, you're going to be like,
oh my gosh, like I'm true and people
believe in me.
I think that's hard for a lot of
people to understand.
I think if you're not making a big
(09:46):
dent, people say, oh, gee, I've got to
lie.
I've got to make myself appear better than
what I am, like a real oxymoron, but
people do it every single day until they
have to pay the piper, until they get
caught, until people find out that they're really
not honest.
Guys, here's the part of the show that
I really like, where I like the whole
(10:07):
show, but I love this part the most.
So I'm going to go ahead and give
you, basically, a personal lesson or story, one
for each point today.
And it's my hope, guys, that what this
will do is it will inspire you to
(10:28):
see truth, to live from truth, and to
embrace where you're coming from.
I think that's something that a lot of
people miss because they're just trying to go
for the gold.
They're trying to just go for something, but
they don't have integrity to live after.
I think that becomes a problem, not just
(10:49):
for you or for I, but for everyone,
everyone's path that you cross today or everyone
that you've ever affected in the past and
will in the future.
Because, you see, the way you choose to
express yourself says this is what it's about.
And if you, just for one moment, okay,
express yourself in a manner that is not
(11:10):
true, is not full of integrity, just for
one moment, you could tarnish your reputation forever.
That's sad, but it's truthful.
Hardship is guaranteed.
Staying is a choice.
I remember facing a major financial setback early
in my career.
The bills piled up and I could have
easily cut corners or taken a shortcut to
(11:32):
cover the gap.
Instead, I focused on maintaining steady progress, making
tough decisions, staying within my budget and building
for the long-term.
It wasn't easy, but that choice to stay
steady helped me to develop resilience.
And years later, I could look back and
see how much stronger I become through that
(11:53):
experience.
And I think that's something that a lot
of people, they just don't get it.
They don't understand them.
I think that's a big problem for a
lot of people.
All right, so start living with the understanding
that you can make the difference if you
choose the high road, the honest road.
(12:15):
Easy path versus the honest path.
We hear it all the time.
In one of my early businesses that was
a venture of mine, I was offered an
opportunity to take a shortcut that seemed too
good to be true to pass up.
The easy way would have meant cutting so
many ethical corners, lowering quality standards or inflating
(12:36):
results, but I chose the honest path.
It wasn't the most lucrative option at the
time, but looking back, the trust I built
from that decision helped me build stronger, more
loyal relationships in business.
The harder path is not easy, but it's
the honest path.
(12:56):
And that's definitely more rewarding.
I think what people understand, you're doing something
from your core value.
Well, that gets people excited.
How many people can you trust?
Fully trust, not many.
So many people can be sold or bought.
(13:19):
I was in a podcast interview this morning
with a company that does AI and they
wanted to interview me for some of my
background experience.
And we're talking about where AI is going.
Now, I'm not gonna talk about that in
this show, but what I wanna tell you
is that I was talking about how so
many people, they cut corners, how they do
things that are not ethical.
(13:41):
And by doing that, they do get ahead,
but then they fall quicker than they rose.
Short-term pain or discomfort will always bring
you long-term gain.
A few years ago, I had to make
a tough decision to let go of a
team member who wasn't meeting expectations.
(14:02):
At the time, I felt like the painful
thing to do was to let this person
go, but in the long run, it was
the right decision.
The rest of the team respected the tough
but honest choice I made and improved our
overall performance and our morale.
The short-term discomfort led to long-term
growth for everyone involved.
(14:23):
I think that's important to understand.
Integrity will always build lasting trust and character.
I once had a colleague in business who
was often late on his deliverables.
I could have let it slide, but instead
I chose to confront him directly in a
(14:44):
professional manner and say, honestly, but respectfully, and
it wasn't easy, but by addressing this problem
straight in front of him, I built a
relationship based on trust and respect.
See, that partnership turned into one of my
most successful ventures because honesty laid a strong
(15:04):
foundation.
A lot of times people will say to
you, you know what, ask a stranger for
real advice, and sometimes your friend may not
wanna give you what you need to hear,
and that's that you're terrible or that this
isn't the right way.
But if you have a real friend, a
real true friend, he or she will tell
you that I like you, but this idea
(15:27):
is terrible or this isn't going anywhere, and
be honest with you.
Honesty reduces stress and regrets.
There was a time when I was juggling
multiple projects and I found myself promising more
than I could realistically deliver.
I was overwhelmed with some stress and constantly
worried about letting people down.
This was just after I graduated college.
(15:49):
Finally, I decided to be honest with my
clients and tell them I needed to adjust
deadlines.
It was a tough conversation, but once I
did it, the weight was lifted, guys, was
lifted.
Discipline keeps you on the track, guys.
I've had many moments where temptation knocked, whether
it was to take a shortcut in my
(16:10):
work or to compromise my values to gain
an advantage.
And what I was mentioning before about this
interview, when I said to you that a
lot of people can be bought and I
said, my integrity can't be.
And there's one thing I don't sacrifice when
it comes to technology, that's integrity.
Maybe I can make a few extra bucks,
(16:32):
but that's not worth it to me.
It's worth it to be honest and to
be truthful.
Staying disciplined is tough at times, but whenever
I did it, I've always felt stronger and
more at peace with my decisions that I've
chosen.
Discipline is like a muscle, I've said for
me, and for everyone that I come in
(16:53):
contact with, and I've chosen the honest path,
I've gotten a little better at sticking with
it.
No matter how tempting the easy way seems,
I never go that way.
Small choices shape big character.
I've learned that small, seemingly insignificant choices make
a big impact on who we become.
(17:15):
I remember one small instance where I was
asked by a vendor to overlook a minor
detail in a contract, something that could have
saved a lot of time, but wasn't quite
right.
I chose to address it honestly, even though
it meant taking more time.
That one small decision repeated many times over
and over shaped my character and who I've
(17:37):
become, and it strengthened my integrity over years.
And thus I've never settled for anything less
than truth and integrity.
Shortcuts never last, right?
Whether we're talking about Wendy's, they don't cut
corners, or lots of other things.
I once took a shortcut in marketing, an
aggressive ad campaign that misrepresented a product to
(18:00):
get some quick sales for my company.
It worked in the short term, but it
didn't take long for people to see through
the deception, and the damage to our reputation
was far greater than any temporary gain.
I've learned that now owning a marketing and
video production company, that you gotta be truthful.
You can't do clickbaity things.
But the hard lessons learned from that experience
(18:21):
have stuck with me day in and day
out, and always will.
Shortcuts might give you an immediate boost.
They can never give you long-term success.
It's like people that wanna buy subscribers, which
I never encourage.
I always discourage that.
Or even buying to boost your position on
(18:43):
social media.
It doesn't win.
Because what happens after the ads die out?
Well, your organic reach was never any good,
so it doesn't go anywhere.
These hard lessons are something I've learned, and
I hope you will learn from them too.
Fulfillment comes from truth alone.
I once achieved a goal that many people
(19:04):
would consider success, high revenue, lots of recognition,
but it felt hollow.
It wasn't until I was honest with myself
about why I was pursuing the goal that
I realized I wasn't fulfilling my true purpose
and passion.
When I shifted my focus from outward validation
to living with authenticity, that's when I finally
(19:25):
felt the true fulfillment that comes from honesty.
Honesty doesn't always put money in your pocket
right away, but it will line the basin
so that you'll be able to get plenty
of it later when people see the trust
that you're created with.
Pressure, guys, is gonna test your value.
So just be ready for it.
(19:45):
I faced several situations where I was under
pressure to compromise on my values, those core
values.
Once I was offered a lucrative deal that
could have involved bending the truth just a
little bit to please the client.
In the heat of the moment, the pressure
was intense, but I chose to stand my
ground, stuck to my core values, even though
(20:07):
it meant losing the deal.
In the end, the respect I gained from
staying true to my core values was worth
more than any little bit of money I
would have gotten.
Honest leaders will always inspire others.
I've learned that leadership isn't about being in
charge.
It's about showing others what's possible.
(20:28):
I've been fortunate to work with some incredible
leaders who led with honesty, even when it
wasn't, well, the easiest path.
Their integrity inspired me to step up and
do the same.
And I found that honest leadership has the
power to transform teams, fostering loyalty and respect
that goes far beyond simple tasks that people
(20:49):
rush to complete.
Real relationships, folks, they need honesty.
They require honesty.
I've seen firsthand that the best relationships, whether
personal or professional, are built on honesty.
A few years ago, I had a falling
out with a close friend.
Instead of letting the issue fester, we had
(21:09):
an open conversation, where mistakes came to an
understanding.
It was uncomfortable at first, but that honesty
repaired our bond and made it stronger than
it ever was.
Admitting mistakes takes time, guys.
Encourage.
There was a time when I made a
big mistake in one of my ventures.
I could have hidden it easily.
(21:30):
I chose to admit it publicly.
It was one of the hardest things I've
ever done.
But I learned that owning your mistakes doesn't
make you weak.
It makes you stronger.
By acknowledging my errors and working to correct
them, I gained far more respect than I
would have by pretending it never happened.
You know, pushing it under the rug.
Challenges will always prove your integrity, folks.
(21:53):
During a particularly tough year in business, I
faced a mountain of challenges.
At one point, everything seemed like it was
falling apart.
And the temptation to cut corners was, well,
overwhelming.
But it was in those moments that I
realized that how I handled those challenges would
define me forever.
(22:14):
I held firm to my core values, even
when things weren't going well.
Looking back, that period tested my integrity more
than anything else.
But it proved that tough times are the
true measure of who you really are.
And people will see that day in and
day out.
Respect and trust, guys.
They're earned.
(22:35):
Trust isn't given.
It's earned.
Early in my career, I was more focused
on getting ahead than building genuine relationships.
But over time, I realized that truth, trust,
success comes from earning the respect of those
around you.
By consistently living with that motto, honesty, integrity,
even when it was hard, I earned the
(22:57):
trust of my colleagues and clients, when many
couldn't.
And that trust has been more value to
me than any short-term gain that I've
ever experienced.
Confidence comes from honesty.
I used to struggle with self-doubt, especially
in my early career.
I often second-guessed my decisions, afraid of
making mistakes.
(23:17):
But as I started living more authentically and
making decisions based on core values, I began
to feel a new sense of confidence.
It wasn't the kind of confidence that came
from external validation.
It was the kind that comes from knowing
I'm standing firm in my integrity.
(23:37):
And when I mention integrity, people are like,
well, you know, I'll do it sometimes, or
I do it most of the time.
But today, I'm not going to do it
because, you know, I have to get this
done, or this is a really important thing,
or I have to take money on this.
There's always some excuse to why you don't
want to do it.
And, you know, if you can make an
excuse for today, you'll make an excuse for
tomorrow, and the next day, and the next
week, and the next month, and the next
quarter, and the next year.
(23:58):
Before you know it, it becomes a habitual
pattern that you can't even stop.
You don't even know you're doing it, so
you can't even stop it.
You know, guys, when we think about integrity,
and we think about trust, there's so many
people that want to just take shortcuts because
they feel that life's hard.
(24:18):
And because it's hard, well, then I have
a right to take a shortcut.
No, you don't.
That shortcut, as I said, might get you
ahead of the line today.
It might get you to the top.
But you know what it's not going to
do?
It's not going to keep you there very
long.
It's a temporary position spot.
If you didn't get there based on your
(24:40):
own merits.
I once knew somebody who got a job
at a company because he knew somebody.
The person not only vouched for that person,
but said he was really great, all these
things.
But you know what happened when he got
there?
He really didn't know all those things.
And he actually lied to my friend.
And not only did he lose his job,
(25:02):
but the person that recommended him, well, that
reputation kind of got severed with one of
the heads of the company.
It's easy, folks, to say I'm going to
be full of integrity one time.
But to do it for a lifetime, it
(25:22):
takes some resilience.
That takes some patience.
That takes some courage.
And I know a lot of you that
are watching this or listening to this today,
and you're probably saying to me, John, but
you don't know my situation.
You don't know what I'm going through.
You don't know the hard time I've had.
No, I don't.
(25:45):
You don't know the hard time I've had.
You don't know the hard time other people
have had.
It doesn't make it right for you to
be able to just do this anytime you
want.
I think that's a really important thing.
Thinking about integrity, thinking about taking the hard
but the honest path.
There's two paths.
One way, you're going to make a lot
(26:08):
of money right away.
But you're going to have to sacrifice your
core values.
Can you sacrifice your core values to make
more money and lie to people?
It could be something as simple as saying
that a product is really good.
When you know yourself, the product is terrible.
(26:30):
How many of you know that I don't
really endorse products on the show?
Very rarely.
Right?
Somebody can't pay me to endorse a product.
I've got to believe in that product.
But so many other people can be sold.
I can't.
I can't.
They'll send me free merchandise.
(26:50):
It was like, I can't tell you it's
good because I don't believe in it.
And that's hard for some people to understand.
Well, John, just be quiet and get the
money and just move on.
Yeah, but now you know.
Can you sleep with yourself knowing that you
deliberately did something to deceive someone?
(27:14):
That's a very, very big problem.
People do it in business.
People do it in relationships.
People do it in dating.
They think that they're out for a relationship
when really they're just out for a night
or two.
They're not full of integrity.
And I'm asking you to look back at
(27:36):
yourself and say, hey, have I been up
front with my friends, my family, my business,
my clients?
Have I?
And if I haven't, ask yourself this question.
You don't have to share it with me
(27:57):
or anybody else.
Why?
I know why.
Because it was the easier road.
And you figured, well, I might as well
just take it because I can put some
fast cash in my pocket.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur.
Do check out BelieveMeAchieve.com for more of
my amazing, of course, inspiring creations.
(28:17):
I'll catch you guys real soon.
Be well, everyone.
Hey guys, welcome to Inspirations for Your Life.
I'm glad you decided to join me here
tonight.
It's great to be with you, actually this
afternoon I should say, and hopefully you guys
are getting lots of value from all the
great programming that I'm sharing here.
And if you're new here, I just want
to say welcome.
If you're coming back, of course, I want
to say welcome back.
(00:46):
Thank you so much for being here with
me.
Really do appreciate that.
All right, guys, if you have not checked
out believemecheat.com, go ahead and check that
out after the show.
It's available 24 hours a day.
If you're thirsty, feel free to go get
yourself some RO water like I have here,
or a snack, another beverage, or something else.
(01:07):
And come on back, all right?
All right, let's get this show started.
But first of all, the master topic of
the week is the hidden rules of real
success.
What light doesn't tell you.
And today's granular topic is this.
Take the hard but honest path.
Series four, show 35, episode number five.
(01:30):
Yes, we are leaving restream.
We are just making some final changes, and
then we will be on to a new
platform.
I know a lot of you guys will
notice the difference.
Well, you probably will because we won't be
crashing as much.
So that is the big, big thing.
We just did a test stream with this
new platform, and it didn't crash or even
(01:50):
hiccup once.
So really excited about that.
All right, guys, so let's just kick right
into the show.
So welcome again to another episode of Inspirations
for Your Life, hosted by myself, John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur, podcast coach, podcast host, video
producer, marketing specialist, engineer, and a passionate lifelong
(02:10):
learner.
Today, I'm diving into one of the most
transformational principles for life and leadership, taking the
hard but honest path.
In a world full of shortcuts and easy
out, sometimes seems like the way to go.
Decision to stay true to your values is
(02:31):
what separates those who live with integrity from
those who crumble under pressure.
The honest road may not always be the
easier one or the easiest, but it is
always the most rewarding.
And folks, I do want to reach out
to you guys.
For those of you that are sending us
emails and wanting to get on the show,
we really do appreciate that.
(02:52):
We're going to have a formal process that
you can go to the website and actually
apply.
Because a lot of people use these automated
systems to just try to get on the
show.
And so we have a full process to
what you need to do.
So if you are just sending us an
email and hoping to get on the show,
that's not going to happen.
There are a few things you need to
do first.
And we do send you an email back
(03:12):
with those on.
So we get quite a few of those
a day.
And I just want to let you know
that if you don't answer those, well, we
will just pretty much ignore you.
Just because we get so many people that
are just looking to get on the show.
And for us, it's not a numbers game.
It's quality, okay?
We don't want everybody.
All right, let's get right into this.
Number one, hardship is guaranteed.
Sayness is a choice, right?
(03:34):
And I think when we can understand that,
it makes a difference, right?
Life will always throw us challenges our way.
The difference is whether we let those challenges
shake us or if we stay steady and
grounded.
Choosing sayness builds inner strength.
And of course, it builds resilience.
Number two, guys, easy path versus the honest
(03:57):
path.
Of course, everyone wants the easy, but that's
not always honest.
The easy path might look so attractive, but
it rarely leads to fulfillment.
The honest path requires courage and discipline.
And it's oftentimes harder, but it creates a
long-term peace and set of success that
you'll be happy you chose.
Number three, guys, short-term pain, long-term
(04:21):
gain.
Honesty often stings, okay, in the moment, all
right?
But you have to realize something about it,
whether admitting a mistake or facing a tough
truth.
But over time, the gains far outweigh the
discomfort.
I think that's a very important thing.
(04:42):
Of course, nothing is easy overnight, right?
Nothing, nothing is easy.
I want to just be frank and tell
you that right now.
Number four, integrity builds, okay?
Integrity builds lasting trust.
People may forget your words, but they will
never forget whether they can trust you.
(05:04):
Integrity is the foundation of every strong relationship,
personal or professional.
So why is it so many people don't
want to live with integrity?
They're lazy, they're looking for that short way
out.
They're just looking to do something that their
friend or someone else is doing, and that
(05:26):
may not be right.
And even though it's quick and you might
get the gold right away, you may have
to swallow your pride because you're actually gonna
get yourself in more trouble and you're gonna
damage more relationships and bridges than you ever
knew were possible.
Number five, honesty reduces stress and regret.
(05:49):
When you live honestly, you don't waste energy
covering lies or managing guilt, right?
I always say that if you do lie
once, you have to lie again and another
and another and another.
And eventually you're gonna forget all the lies
you tell, right?
Transparency frees your mind and lightens your spirit.
So why not just be honest from the
(06:09):
get-go?
Number six, discipline keeps you on track.
It takes discipline to stay honest.
When shortcuts appear, discipline is a muscle that
strengthens your ability to choose truth, even when
it's tough, all right?
I know it's not easy.
Number seven, small choices shape big character.
(06:31):
It's not just the big moments that matter,
guys.
Every small, honest decision compounds over time, shaping
the person that you know you wanna become.
Number eight, guys, shortcuts never, ever, ever last.
Cheating your way forward may feel like progress,
but it never endures anything.
(06:53):
The hard but honest path builds something that
stands the test of time.
Number nine, fulfillment comes from truth.
Deep joy doesn't come from faking success.
It comes from knowing you achieved it the
right way.
Truth fuels authentic fulfillment, and that's something to
(07:15):
realize.
Number 10, pressure tests your values.
When things get tough, your true values surface.
Challenges reveal whether you stand firm or compromise
under pressure.
Number 11, guys, honest leaders inspire others.
(07:36):
People don't follow titles.
They follow trust.
Leaders who choose honesty, even when it's costly,
inspire loyalty and respect.
I think that's important to know.
Number 12, real relationships, they require honesty.
(07:56):
Relationships thrive when trust is present.
Honesty creates bonds that are strong, real and
very enduring.
Number 13, admitting mistakes takes courage.
Honesty is not about perfection.
It's about accountability, owning your errors, building credibility,
and earning respect.
The more you do this, the easier it
(08:17):
will be, and the more people will trust
you.
Number 14, challenges prove integrity.
Every obstacle is an opportunity to show your
true character.
The way you handle difficulty says more than
any words ever could.
Number 15, respect and trust, they're earned.
(08:41):
They're not given.
They're not bought.
Neither respect nor trust can be demanded upon.
They are earned by living consistently with honesty.
Even when no one is watching, that's when
it's just as important to be honest, to
be living a life of integrity.
(09:01):
Number 16, confidence comes from honesty.
True confidence isn't fake.
It comes from knowing you've walked with integrity.
The assurance is unshakeable, and it's powerful, guys.
I know that you might just want to
live that easy way, just like, oh, it's
going to be so easy and be so
simple.
But the truth of the matter is, you're
(09:23):
going to have regrets.
And if you could just live with integrity
and honesty and take the hard but the
honest path first, you're going to be like,
oh my gosh, like I'm true and people
believe in me.
I think that's hard for a lot of
people to understand.
I think if you're not making a big
(09:46):
dent, people say, oh, gee, I've got to
lie.
I've got to make myself appear better than
what I am, like a real oxymoron, but
people do it every single day until they
have to pay the piper, until they get
caught, until people find out that they're really
not honest.
Guys, here's the part of the show that
I really like, where I like the whole
(10:07):
show, but I love this part the most.
So I'm going to go ahead and give
you, basically, a personal lesson or story, one
for each point today.
And it's my hope, guys, that what this
will do is it will inspire you to
(10:28):
see truth, to live from truth, and to
embrace where you're coming from.
I think that's something that a lot of
people miss because they're just trying to go
for the gold.
They're trying to just go for something, but
they don't have integrity to live after.
I think that becomes a problem, not just
(10:49):
for you or for I, but for everyone,
everyone's path that you cross today or everyone
that you've ever affected in the past and
will in the future.
Because, you see, the way you choose to
express yourself says this is what it's about.
And if you, just for one moment, okay,
express yourself in a manner that is not
(11:10):
true, is not full of integrity, just for
one moment, you could tarnish your reputation forever.
That's sad, but it's truthful.
Hardship is guaranteed.
Staying is a choice.
I remember facing a major financial setback early
in my career.
The bills piled up and I could have
easily cut corners or taken a shortcut to
(11:32):
cover the gap.
Instead, I focused on maintaining steady progress, making
tough decisions, staying within my budget and building
for the long-term.
It wasn't easy, but that choice to stay
steady helped me to develop resilience.
And years later, I could look back and
see how much stronger I become through that
(11:53):
experience.
And I think that's something that a lot
of people, they just don't get it.
They don't understand them.
I think that's a big problem for a
lot of people.
All right, so start living with the understanding
that you can make the difference if you
choose the high road, the honest road.
(12:15):
Easy path versus the honest path.
We hear it all the time.
In one of my early businesses that was
a venture of mine, I was offered an
opportunity to take a shortcut that seemed too
good to be true to pass up.
The easy way would have meant cutting so
many ethical corners, lowering quality standards or inflating
(12:36):
results, but I chose the honest path.
It wasn't the most lucrative option at the
time, but looking back, the trust I built
from that decision helped me build stronger, more
loyal relationships in business.
The harder path is not easy, but it's
the honest path.
(12:56):
And that's definitely more rewarding.
I think what people understand, you're doing something
from your core value.
Well, that gets people excited.
How many people can you trust?
Fully trust, not many.
So many people can be sold or bought.
(13:19):
I was in a podcast interview this morning
with a company that does AI and they
wanted to interview me for some of my
background experience.
And we're talking about where AI is going.
Now, I'm not gonna talk about that in
this show, but what I wanna tell you
is that I was talking about how so
many people, they cut corners, how they do
things that are not ethical.
(13:41):
And by doing that, they do get ahead,
but then they fall quicker than they rose.
Short-term pain or discomfort will always bring
you long-term gain.
A few years ago, I had to make
a tough decision to let go of a
team member who wasn't meeting expectations.
(14:02):
At the time, I felt like the painful
thing to do was to let this person
go, but in the long run, it was
the right decision.
The rest of the team respected the tough
but honest choice I made and improved our
overall performance and our morale.
The short-term discomfort led to long-term
growth for everyone involved.
(14:23):
I think that's important to understand.
Integrity will always build lasting trust and character.
I once had a colleague in business who
was often late on his deliverables.
I could have let it slide, but instead
I chose to confront him directly in a
(14:44):
professional manner and say, honestly, but respectfully, and
it wasn't easy, but by addressing this problem
straight in front of him, I built a
relationship based on trust and respect.
See, that partnership turned into one of my
most successful ventures because honesty laid a strong
(15:04):
foundation.
A lot of times people will say to
you, you know what, ask a stranger for
real advice, and sometimes your friend may not
wanna give you what you need to hear,
and that's that you're terrible or that this
isn't the right way.
But if you have a real friend, a
real true friend, he or she will tell
you that I like you, but this idea
(15:27):
is terrible or this isn't going anywhere, and
be honest with you.
Honesty reduces stress and regrets.
There was a time when I was juggling
multiple projects and I found myself promising more
than I could realistically deliver.
I was overwhelmed with some stress and constantly
worried about letting people down.
This was just after I graduated college.
(15:49):
Finally, I decided to be honest with my
clients and tell them I needed to adjust
deadlines.
It was a tough conversation, but once I
did it, the weight was lifted, guys, was
lifted.
Discipline keeps you on the track, guys.
I've had many moments where temptation knocked, whether
it was to take a shortcut in my
(16:10):
work or to compromise my values to gain
an advantage.
And what I was mentioning before about this
interview, when I said to you that a
lot of people can be bought and I
said, my integrity can't be.
And there's one thing I don't sacrifice when
it comes to technology, that's integrity.
Maybe I can make a few extra bucks,
(16:32):
but that's not worth it to me.
It's worth it to be honest and to
be truthful.
Staying disciplined is tough at times, but whenever
I did it, I've always felt stronger and
more at peace with my decisions that I've
chosen.
Discipline is like a muscle, I've said for
me, and for everyone that I come in
(16:53):
contact with, and I've chosen the honest path,
I've gotten a little better at sticking with
it.
No matter how tempting the easy way seems,
I never go that way.
Small choices shape big character.
I've learned that small, seemingly insignificant choices make
a big impact on who we become.
(17:15):
I remember one small instance where I was
asked by a vendor to overlook a minor
detail in a contract, something that could have
saved a lot of time, but wasn't quite
right.
I chose to address it honestly, even though
it meant taking more time.
That one small decision repeated many times over
and over shaped my character and who I've
(17:37):
become, and it strengthened my integrity over years.
And thus I've never settled for anything less
than truth and integrity.
Shortcuts never last, right?
Whether we're talking about Wendy's, they don't cut
corners, or lots of other things.
I once took a shortcut in marketing, an
aggressive ad campaign that misrepresented a product to
(18:00):
get some quick sales for my company.
It worked in the short term, but it
didn't take long for people to see through
the deception, and the damage to our reputation
was far greater than any temporary gain.
I've learned that now owning a marketing and
video production company, that you gotta be truthful.
You can't do clickbaity things.
But the hard lessons learned from that experience
(18:21):
have stuck with me day in and day
out, and always will.
Shortcuts might give you an immediate boost.
They can never give you long-term success.
It's like people that wanna buy subscribers, which
I never encourage.
I always discourage that.
Or even buying to boost your position on
(18:43):
social media.
It doesn't win.
Because what happens after the ads die out?
Well, your organic reach was never any good,
so it doesn't go anywhere.
These hard lessons are something I've learned, and
I hope you will learn from them too.
Fulfillment comes from truth alone.
I once achieved a goal that many people
(19:04):
would consider success, high revenue, lots of recognition,
but it felt hollow.
It wasn't until I was honest with myself
about why I was pursuing the goal that
I realized I wasn't fulfilling my true purpose
and passion.
When I shifted my focus from outward validation
to living with authenticity, that's when I finally
(19:25):
felt the true fulfillment that comes from honesty.
Honesty doesn't always put money in your pocket
right away, but it will line the basin
so that you'll be able to get plenty
of it later when people see the trust
that you're created with.
Pressure, guys, is gonna test your value.
So just be ready for it.
(19:45):
I faced several situations where I was under
pressure to compromise on my values, those core
values.
Once I was offered a lucrative deal that
could have involved bending the truth just a
little bit to please the client.
In the heat of the moment, the pressure
was intense, but I chose to stand my
ground, stuck to my core values, even though
(20:07):
it meant losing the deal.
In the end, the respect I gained from
staying true to my core values was worth
more than any little bit of money I
would have gotten.
Honest leaders will always inspire others.
I've learned that leadership isn't about being in
charge.
It's about showing others what's possible.
(20:28):
I've been fortunate to work with some incredible
leaders who led with honesty, even when it
wasn't, well, the easiest path.
Their integrity inspired me to step up and
do the same.
And I found that honest leadership has the
power to transform teams, fostering loyalty and respect
that goes far beyond simple tasks that people
(20:49):
rush to complete.
Real relationships, folks, they need honesty.
They require honesty.
I've seen firsthand that the best relationships, whether
personal or professional, are built on honesty.
A few years ago, I had a falling
out with a close friend.
Instead of letting the issue fester, we had
(21:09):
an open conversation, where mistakes came to an
understanding.
It was uncomfortable at first, but that honesty
repaired our bond and made it stronger than
it ever was.
Admitting mistakes takes time, guys.
Encourage.
There was a time when I made a
big mistake in one of my ventures.
I could have hidden it easily.
(21:30):
I chose to admit it publicly.
It was one of the hardest things I've
ever done.
But I learned that owning your mistakes doesn't
make you weak.
It makes you stronger.
By acknowledging my errors and working to correct
them, I gained far more respect than I
would have by pretending it never happened.
You know, pushing it under the rug.
Challenges will always prove your integrity, folks.
(21:53):
During a particularly tough year in business, I
faced a mountain of challenges.
At one point, everything seemed like it was
falling apart.
And the temptation to cut corners was, well,
overwhelming.
But it was in those moments that I
realized that how I handled those challenges would
define me forever.
(22:14):
I held firm to my core values, even
when things weren't going well.
Looking back, that period tested my integrity more
than anything else.
But it proved that tough times are the
true measure of who you really are.
And people will see that day in and
day out.
Respect and trust, guys.
They're earned.
(22:35):
Trust isn't given.
It's earned.
Early in my career, I was more focused
on getting ahead than building genuine relationships.
But over time, I realized that truth, trust,
success comes from earning the respect of those
around you.
By consistently living with that motto, honesty, integrity,
even when it was hard, I earned the
(22:57):
trust of my colleagues and clients, when many
couldn't.
And that trust has been more value to
me than any short-term gain that I've
ever experienced.
Confidence comes from honesty.
I used to struggle with self-doubt, especially
in my early career.
I often second-guessed my decisions, afraid of
making mistakes.
(23:17):
But as I started living more authentically and
making decisions based on core values, I began
to feel a new sense of confidence.
It wasn't the kind of confidence that came
from external validation.
It was the kind that comes from knowing
I'm standing firm in my integrity.
(23:37):
And when I mention integrity, people are like,
well, you know, I'll do it sometimes, or
I do it most of the time.
But today, I'm not going to do it
because, you know, I have to get this
done, or this is a really important thing,
or I have to take money on this.
There's always some excuse to why you don't
want to do it.
And, you know, if you can make an
excuse for today, you'll make an excuse for
tomorrow, and the next day, and the next
week, and the next month, and the next
quarter, and the next year.
(23:58):
Before you know it, it becomes a habitual
pattern that you can't even stop.
You don't even know you're doing it, so
you can't even stop it.
You know, guys, when we think about integrity,
and we think about trust, there's so many
people that want to just take shortcuts because
they feel that life's hard.
(24:18):
And because it's hard, well, then I have
a right to take a shortcut.
No, you don't.
That shortcut, as I said, might get you
ahead of the line today.
It might get you to the top.
But you know what it's not going to
do?
It's not going to keep you there very
long.
It's a temporary position spot.
If you didn't get there based on your
(24:40):
own merits.
I once knew somebody who got a job
at a company because he knew somebody.
The person not only vouched for that person,
but said he was really great, all these
things.
But you know what happened when he got
there?
He really didn't know all those things.
And he actually lied to my friend.
And not only did he lose his job,
(25:02):
but the person that recommended him, well, that
reputation kind of got severed with one of
the heads of the company.
It's easy, folks, to say I'm going to
be full of integrity one time.
But to do it for a lifetime, it
(25:22):
takes some resilience.
That takes some patience.
That takes some courage.
And I know a lot of you that
are watching this or listening to this today,
and you're probably saying to me, John, but
you don't know my situation.
You don't know what I'm going through.
You don't know the hard time I've had.
No, I don't.
(25:45):
You don't know the hard time I've had.
You don't know the hard time other people
have had.
It doesn't make it right for you to
be able to just do this anytime you
want.
I think that's a really important thing.
Thinking about integrity, thinking about taking the hard
but the honest path.
There's two paths.
One way, you're going to make a lot
(26:08):
of money right away.
But you're going to have to sacrifice your
core values.
Can you sacrifice your core values to make
more money and lie to people?
It could be something as simple as saying
that a product is really good.
When you know yourself, the product is terrible.
(26:30):
How many of you know that I don't
really endorse products on the show?
Very rarely.
Right?
Somebody can't pay me to endorse a product.
I've got to believe in that product.
But so many other people can be sold.
I can't.
I can't.
They'll send me free merchandise.
(26:50):
It was like, I can't tell you it's
good because I don't believe in it.
And that's hard for some people to understand.
Well, John, just be quiet and get the
money and just move on.
Yeah, but now you know.
Can you sleep with yourself knowing that you
deliberately did something to deceive someone?
(27:14):
That's a very, very big problem.
People do it in business.
People do it in relationships.
People do it in dating.
They think that they're out for a relationship
when really they're just out for a night
or two.
They're not full of integrity.
And I'm asking you to look back at
(27:36):
yourself and say, hey, have I been up
front with my friends, my family, my business,
my clients?
Have I?
And if I haven't, ask yourself this question.
You don't have to share it with me
(27:57):
or anybody else.
Why?
I know why.
Because it was the easier road.
And you figured, well, I might as well
just take it because I can put some
fast cash in my pocket.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur.
Do check out BelieveMeAchieve.com for more of
my amazing, of course, inspiring creations.
(28:17):
I'll catch you guys real soon.
Be well, everyone.
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