It seems like every time you turn around, someone is lying to you about something.

I just read about Gallup Polling being cut off from any future Federal contracts because they were overcharging the government and “indicating a lack of business honesty or integrity.” Well, that’s a problem for an organization that’s been in business since 1922…and every other business or person that is less than forthcoming in their practices.

What is it that makes people think that lying will get them what they want, when telling the truth is actually the only thing that can turn them into a trusted partner for the long term? Do they not understand that they will eventually get caught – and even if they don’t, they have to live their lies FOREVER?

I heard a Russian proverb today that resonated with me:

With lies you may go ahead in the world, but you can never go back.

After hearing an uncommonly honest talk on being brutally honest with yourself (followed by a standing ovation) at TedXBoulder, we sat down with our friendly neighborhood entrepreneur, speaker, no-BS branding strategist, and columnist, Erika Napoletano, to discuss honesty.

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In our conversation, Erika asked a number of excellent not-so-rhetorical questions including these doozies;

“Do you want to wake up every day and manifest mediocrity or do you want to wake up and blow your life out of the water and do things that other people never thought were possible?”

OR

“When was the last time that you heard this: ‘You know that guy down the street that’s shady as hell? I can’t wait to give him more business!?” This never happened, did it? I didn’t think so.”

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