There is No Replacement for Ethics
It has been a running joke with those who know me that, if I were less ethical, how I could greatly increase my income. Since starting in online consulting 14 years ago, I have viewed being an online business consultant as having a mandate to be the reality and truth of what is required to thrive online — not what I can get away with sugarcoating; not what lack of experience I can take advantage of just to get into business owner’s pocketbooks.
See I know that my clients do not know or understand what they need to to make educated decisions in regard to their online programs. That’s where I come in — that’s what I am proud to be paid to provide. Nor do they have the experience to determine who really has their best interests at heart. I am brutally aware of all the hype and BS online to the contrary of the reality of what online business success requires. My job is to break through all that noise and offer the unadulterated truth.
Daily I get questioned about if it is possible to “make six figures Blogging.” I could answer “Sure, here is what it will cost to get your Blog up and running!” like so many others who fail to mention the commitment, investment and skills required to actually pull that off. I’ve been doing this long enough to know that most who ask me that question do not realize the amount of work and know-how involved and are not up to the challenge.
Then, there are others who contact me with their new site idea. A plan that is not based in any reality or ability to produce ROI. I could take them on, go into what I call “tell and do mode” and create what they desire — just to make the bucks. But I can’t. Silly me has to inform them of the variables and knowledge acquisition that they will be required to embrace in order to make their idea one that succeeds.
I turn down clients every day who do not want to learn, do not want to invest, do not want to work as hard as necessary to succeed. How can I take their money knowing they will fail? How can I not make them aware of what they need to be cognizant of, knowing that they are throwing good money after bad and still bill for my services? I can’t.
After advising a potential client about the reality of what their program will entail to reach any tangible goals and that my ethics prevented me from helping him to pursue his program without his being on the same page, I was told “there are other consultants — I’ll find one who is more flexible.” To which I replied, “I’m sorry you feel that way; there are other consultants who will be willing to take your money, however there is no replacement for ethics.”
“Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity.”
~ W. Clement Stone
At your service,
Judith
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