Truth matters

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. ~ Winston Churchill

I read a book not too long ago that dealt with the importance of “truth” and what happens when people buy a lie. The results are never good. (here is a link to the book)

It got me thinking about the standards by which we run our businesses. Consumers are looking for organizations and people to give them the truth.

Having a mysterious brand or company that operated behind a curtain used to be fine. People trusted that what they didn’t know was fine. That M.O. is lethal these days. Your audience will assume you are hiding something and with Google and social media, they will find out if someone is cutting corners.

Shouldn’t we be honest and open anyway?

The companies that stand out from the crowd are the ones that live at a higher standard and empower their customers, employees, and contemporaries to rise to it.

Standards are reflected in a business’s products, marketing, and culture.

Great examples like this one are showing us how to thrive in the new economy.

This is different than transparency. You don’t have open the kimono all the way. Seek integrity and keep your promises. This is the first rule for business, branding, and marketing. You will win the hearts and decisions of your audience.

Godin has my favorite quote on this: “Want a bigger brand? Make bigger promises. And keep them.”

Your thoughts?