Honesty may be more refreshing than a dip in the pool

One of the nearest and dearest things to my heart is the good old concept of honesty. And really what this means is speaking your mind. Sounds simple – yes. Simple to do – au contraire. So why am I going on about something old-fashioned that sounds simple?

Because, it seems honesty is a dying concept and honest people are a dying breed. And it’s not like the dishonesty I am talking about here is like theft and other more serious maladies. It really is people being so politically correct and so sensitive that I am equating to dishonesty here.
It’s the client saying, “I’ll get back to you later today”, when they really have no intention of doing so. It’s me saying, “I’ll call you in 5 minutes when I know that is an impossibility”. It’s a supplier saying, “No problem, I’ll have the media list to you in an hour” – when they know it will take three days.

Unfortunately, it’s rampant in today’s economy.

So you can imagine how refreshing it felt yesterday and today when I met and spoke with Carole, Lauren, Glen and Ian at a potential new client. They spoke their mind. They told me what they think needs to be done. They put a stake in the ground. And while their opinions may differ from mine – that’s cool. Totally cool! That’s what I like. No. Let me correct myself. That’s what I love.

Yesterday was a hot day here in Toronto. Usually I end off hot days with a swim in the pool. Yesterday I told my wife that I did not need a refreshing swim. “How unusual” she said --- I was refreshed already.

And who was it that mistakenly said that work could be more refreshing than a dip on a summer day in a cool swimming pool?