What ever happened to our personal standards, you know the value of our word, for example? It seems that we all remember that there was the” good old days” when a mans word was rock solid. In other words you could depend upon his performance on time and well done because he said he would do something and thus could be relied upon to do it.  In those days everyone also did their best and delivered exceptional service and product. What happened?

Why is this a story from the “good old days” and not a story about today’s standards and way of life?

For example:

1. Being late for an appointment is deemed acceptable and almost expected. Broken word.

2. Not calling back when you said you would is normal. Broken word.

3. The biggest laugh of all and a joke everyone understands is the check is in the mail…even though it isn’t, but this practise while annoying is absolutely expected. Broken word.

4. Late payments for rent or anything for that matter is apparently built into our culture as we now have late charges and grace periods honoring ones lack of commitment and saying its ok as long as you pay an additional amount. Broken word.

5. How about vendor deliveries, never ever on time. Broken word.

6. What about trades people. “I will definitely be there on Monday” and they show up on Thursday and we consider ourselves fortunate that he showed up at all! Broken word.

7. Even in our own offices, dead lines are never met, and  it seems acceptable to everyone involved. Broken word.

8. Bosses have a habit of never being on time, but he is the boss we say, so its ok!!!! Broken word.

9. Meetings never start on time and never end on time and this too I suggest is a breach of a commitment. Broken word.

10. Accountants never deliver their work product on time nor do lawyers.  Broken word.

11. Then there is the quality of performance, it seems that taking pride in a quality performance is rare. People expect inferior work effort and are surprised when someone does a good job or delivers as promised, as if its ok to deliver less then your best and less then paid for or expected. Low work standards.

12. We expect shoddy product and guaranties that have more loopholes then substance, insurance companies that do not pay on claims they have insured. Low standards.

13. Tips are no longer earned but are expected even for inferior service. Low standards.

…and on and on it goes.

Yet we try and teach our children that your word is important, that timeliness is important, that doing your best and delivering on time is important, yet as they grow up they see the opposite is true.

What does this mean to a business person?

We have a choice, we can either continue to contribute to the demise of our standards, or you can make an individual statement and make a commitment to your word being unbreakable and demonstrate to everyone you are involved with that you are a man of your word and do what you say you will do.

What would this mean? You would rapidly earn a valuable reputation as a dependable man. This will create and support huge respect, tremendous loyalty and more business then otherwise, as people are attracted to people with high standards in a world were standards are disappearing. People so appreciate a man who keeps his word, they will admire him and talk well of him and will want to do business with him. They will deem him responsible, predictable, dependable, reliable and therefore worthy of trust, wow!!! All starting with keeping your word.

They will accept his word on other issues that are important, they will give him work without competitive biding, they will make him the preferred business associate, the “go to guy” because he delivers what he promises.

So here is the interesting fact. Because when one demonstrates a commitment to keeping ones word on the small issues, it transfers to larger more important issues where it really counts. If a man commits to honoring his word, it is typically an across the board commitment, applying to all aspects of his life, thus if all we need to do is return a call on time and reap the benefits of being a trustworthy man who delivers as promised and this applies to all aspects of his life, then its probably a worthy effort to return ones calls on time.

It is sad that our society has reduced itself to such a low common denominator were everyone expects everyone else to NOT perform as they say they will and not keep their word. But its not to late to change this, one person at a time. The benefits are huge.

It is an advantage in every aspect of our lives, thus I say why not try it out. Keep your word on the simple things and see what happens to your life. Practice keeping your word on small thing and soon you will be keeping your word on the large issues as well.

Who knows maybe you will soon be known as someone who has high standards, keeps his word and does what he says he will do. This will transfer to all aspects of your life, home and community. Its how we are supposed to be living, do it, it works, its good for you and it is setting an excellent example for others who will follow.