Honesty is scary.

Not just for you, but for the people around you.

THINK ABOUT IT: Any time you honestly, sincerely and candidly share your opinion about something that matters to you, there’s always that one insecure, cynical twit who just has to remark…

“Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?”

Um, I just did, you think.

But it doesn’t matter. Most people are standing by for sugarcoating. And when you say something that’s too real, too close to life, it makes them squirm.

As George Carlin once said:
“People have trouble dealing with reality. They can’t face the truth, so they invent soft language to protect themselves from it. It’s a grotesque evasion, and language makes me want to vomit. Well, maybe not vomit. It makes me want to engage in an involuntary personal protein spill.”

And I admit it: I’ve dabbled with dishonesty before. And I completely understand why human beings do it.

It saves face, shifts the blame, avoids punishment, evades confrontation, protects your situation, spares people’s feelings, helps you get your way, makes you feel better about yourself and manipulates the way others perceive you.

What’s not to like?

THE ONLY PROBLEM IS: I’m a horrible liar. Honesty is too much a part of my personal constitution as human being to do it. And when I don’t tell the truth – to myself, to others and to the world – my body broadcasts it like a drive in movie.

So I just tell the truth. As often as possible.

Which doesn’t mean I never lie. But I’m doing the best I can.

AND DON’T GET ME WRONG: I would love to be dishonest. But frankly, it’s simply too much work. And I’ve got books to write.

That’s what I never understood about the corporate world: They treat honesty like it’s some sort of organizational initiative.

Excuse me, but that’s freaking ludicrous.

First of all, if you have to tell people you are – you probably aren’t.

Second, honesty shouldn’t have to be a policy. If you have to tell your people to tell the truth, you need new people.

Third, if your company wants to earn a reputation of truthfulness, make honesty a constitutional ingredient – not a corporate initiative.

That’s what blogging is all about: Honoring the truth. Honoring your truth. Honoring other people’s truth.

So what if it scares people?

Tell them how you really feel.

It might change everything.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
How are you branding your honesty?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
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