The Heretic Logo

By PASCAL FINETTE

The Heretic is a free dispatch delivering insights into what it takes to lead into & in the unknown. For entrepreneurs, corporate irritants and change makers. Raw, unfiltered and opinionated.

be radical.

Sep 23rd, 2015 Share: Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Do What’s Right

One of my defining characteristics is that I will always, to a fault, do what I think is the right thing. Sometimes this puts me into positions which are disadvantageous for my (short-term) success. Sometimes it’s hard. Oftentimes it leads to more work on my end.

I just can’t help it.

Mark Twain used to say:

“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”

I believe this to be of fundamental truth. Life, careers and successes are a long game — you are in this for the long run. Once you truly grok that careers are built over decades, taking shortcuts just makes no sense anymore. Doing the right thing; the thing you truly believe in, the thing which is aligned with your believes and values, becomes the only way forward — even if it comes at a short-term cost.

Pretty much at every job I ever did I told my boss that “I want to get fired for doing the right thing.” It never happened.

In the long-run people respect you much more for doing what’s right instead of doing what’s opportunistic.

P.S. Talking of which — My wife Jane and I run a non-profit “The Coaching Fellowship”, which brings pro-bono executive coaching to young women who are positively impacting the world. We just opened applications for our next cohort — it would be awesome if you could spread the word (and apply!).


1,289 Posts and Counting.
Don't miss the next post. Sign up now!