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As a member of society, as a
marital partner, as a friend, we all value integrity today more than
ever. The reason is clear; we live in a world where too many people act
and react to attain personal advantage rather than to model personal
integrity. This week's quote from Henry David Thoreau is a plea for
personal integrity. Read on ...
Ric Moxley – Managing Editor
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Be
true to your work, your word, and your friend.
— Henry David Thoreau
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Key Point
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Are
you unhappy with the state of your world and its decaying sense of
decency? Change it by example! Today, ask yourself what you can do to
be true to your work, true to your word, and true to your friends. Live
it before you expect it of others.
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Marketing Value
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Quality
is important to the value of your product or service, of course. But it
isn't enough. Customers value that which they can trust. If you are
true to your work and your word, you will deliver reliable, consistent
products. Integrity adds value that sets you apart from your
competitors. Integrity breeds client satisfaction, which in turn breeds
word-of-mouth promotion. Say what you mean and mean what you say;
there's no stronger marketing campaign than that.
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In Speaking and
Writing . . .
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You will find
this quote from Henry David Thoreau useful for teaching and encouraging
balance. Being true to your work without being true to yourself means
you have sacrificed yourself at the altar of your company. Be also true
to your word, yet don't make promises that serve you at the expense of
friends and coworkers.
This quote
presents two excellent opportunities for motivating others in your
business writing:
1.
Many a manager dreads performing
employee evaluations, particularly when the employee's performance is
not all rosy. If integrity is a problem, you can integrate Thoreau's
quote into the solution. While you must give specific examples of the problem
and provide detailed action plans for measurable improvement, you can
add impact to the written evaluation by wrapping up or summarizing your
evaluation with a timely aphorism such as Thoreau's.
2.
You can use this quote in an internal
communications letter that seeks to underscore the importance of
personal and corporate integrity. Words like these always have more
power when they are not merely your own opinions, but are supported
with the words of someone famous..
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Beyond the Workplace . . .
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Be true to your
friend. Be loyal. Sadly, loyal friends are hard to find. Psychologists
today can tell you: true love is based on
commitment not feelings. Likewise, commitment is critical to quality
friendship. To be true to your friend is to be reliable, predictable and
straightforward -- to be there in good times and bad. Be such a friend
and you will have such friends..
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What is Your Favorite Quote?
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Do you have a favorite quote that has either served you
inspirationally in the workplace or has been a nice bit of spice in
speech or in writing? Write
and tell us about it. We may feature your quote in a future issue
to inspire others.
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Let WriteWorks Help
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When you need
to commemorate, ameliorate, advocate, inaugurate, or abdicate — when
you need your words to make a lasting and positive impression for your
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