In 1981 there was a movie nominated for 7 academy awards including Best Picture. The movie, Chariots of Fire (title from a poem by William Blake, "Bring my my chariot of fire" and also the original verse from 2 Kings 2:11;6:17 in the Bible) won for Best Picture. It is a fact-based true story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics, Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice.

Both men are accepted to represent Great Britain in the Olympics in Paris. However, while boarding the boat to Paris, Liddell learns the news the heat he is to run in will be on Sunday. He refuses to run the race-despite pressure from the government and the Olympic committee-because his personal convictions prevent him from running on the Sabbath. I will let you decide whether or not to watch the movie to find out what happens.

The point of this blog is magnified in an article from Harvard Business Review (How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayten Christensen) where he reminded me there are a number of extenuating circumstances in life where one's personal integrity can be compromised. However, he states a truth to remember and live by,  "It's easier to hold on to your principles 100% of the time than it is 98% of the time. If you give in "just this once...you will regret where you end up."

Wow!

So here are a few questions to consider:

1. Are you the same person of integrity with your family as you are at work? Do you stand for the same things in your personal life as you do in other areas of your life?
2. When it comes to making decisions for your company, do you compromise your decision to do best for the company while also knowing it sends a message to your followers, "it's okay this time, it's different?"

At the end of the day, can you stand in front of a mirror and ask yourself, "Every decision I made today was made with integrity and my personal values and character were not compromised?"

Tough personal questions, answered honestly, build character.

rb

Words Of Wisdom: "Accomplishment substituted for fulfillment is disillusionment." Fred Smith