Most of my writing lately has been about Internet marketing, lead generation, and how to grow a successful business. I’ve spent years learning and writing about leadership as well. Leadership, like sales, marketing and finance is an essential component of entrepreneurship and business. So I need to get a recent experience off my chest and put some closure to it.

Entrepreneurship is a gift in my mind. The desire to start something from nothing. To build a business. Create jobs. Create true wealth. And when I deal with lousy entrepreneurs, people who don’t live in integrity, it really gets to me. Then I get over it. Fast.

I was recently reminded how important integrity is to business and entrepreneurship. I took on a project that I thought might compliment the other work I have going on right now. In retrospect I sure was wrong.

I wasn’t wrong because of the work itself. I was wrong because I misjudged the integrity of the people running the business. I won’t go into much detail at this point. Let it suffice to say that people without integrity build businesses that reflect the same. In this instance there is a serious lack of integrity. And the company leadership including the founder felt justified in their lack of integrity because they are a “start up” of two years or so. Ridiculous in my mind. But not in theirs. Tragic really.

One of my comments to them was presented in the form of a question. I asked, “Do you think Ritz Carlton, Discount Tire, Disneyland, Nordstrom or Tiffany were launched as start ups while lacking integrity?” They won’t get it. As if any world-renowned brand would dare put out any excuse of not doing what they say they are going to do for their employees, associates and customers. No brand would last under circumstances in which integrity is lacking. Arrogance. Ego. Ineptitude. Ignorance. All qualities that lead to lack of integrity.

All I can say at this point is I believe this company is doomed. Call it Karma. Call it lack of integrity or vision. Sure, they are growing fast and they may be getting people to pay for their service now. But no business or entrepreneur can succeed over the long-haul with a lack of integrity. They think they’re “keeping families safe” as stands their informal tag line. Yeah right.

I’d love to hear how you feel about this topic in general. Have you ever worked with an organization where leadership lacked integrity? How did you feel working with people like this? What happened in the end?

The stress of this experience was significant and I’m glad it’s over. Live in integrity. Especially when you’re a start up.

Clifford Jones, Founder
WealthNet Partners, LLC
“Discover The Art of Business Development”
Scottsdale, Arizona