Twinkle, twinkle, o ethical star, how we wonder where you are. Will you show us your brilliant light, in the midst of the dark and night?
Now we wonder what you are, twinkle, twinkle, o ethical star.
While the farthest thing from Robert Frost or Emily Dickinson, I do dream and wish for ethical stars to shine brightly into the new year for all of us.
With our planet arguably in deep trouble due to failings in human conduct, these are the things I wish for:
1. That we may all be ethical stars constructing moral compasses that have purpose and values to live for.
2. We are accountable and responsible for our conduct. An ethical lapse must be claimed and owned.
3. Do not deflect blame and finger point at others. The best path is to question ourselves from within and ask what went wrong.
4. All that is ethical is values based. Let us not conveniently and loosely throw out words into the wind hoping others will jump into a blind wagon.
5. Let us all contribute to the construction of better ethical cultures into our work places or suffer the consequences. The time to talk has passed. Ride the Monopoly “Go” card.
6. Let us build a new ethical paradigm: ALL discrimination inside and outside of organizations must be eradicated. The pain, agony, indecency, and costs are too much to bear any longer.
7. May we build fast moving teams with leaders who are selfless, honest, transparent, genuine, and purposeful.
8. If we strive to show respect, consideration, and courtesy to others wouldn’t our planet be more ethical and a better place to live?
9. That cheating and stealing stops immediately. They are products of failed ethical and moral compasses. Rationalizing and justifying them as “no big deal” is a true and tried formula for replication.
0. That world leaders will stop compartmentalizing their values and end their hypocrisy when it comes to dealing with human poverty. Over three billion people live on less than $2.50 per day; shallow words and the lack of strategic initiatives remain shameful at best and have only made the problem worse.
1. How can purposeful and transformational leadership occur in our businesses when executive pay is 330 times the average worker? These leaders will continue to echo hollow and shallow words of ethical values in play, when in fact the vast majority of them could never contemplate an existence without money, power, control, & privilege they enjoy.
2. We are not all cut out to be heroes, but we all have the ability to inspire others through giving and selfless behavior. Let’s recommit ourselves to helping others who are more needy, more impoverished, and less privileged than us. With our ethical values in play, we can in small ways transform lives for the better.
Our time is now and we cannot as humans make any more excuses for our lack of ethical conduct.
Do your best every day. No one can demand any more or less from us.
Prayer is a beautiful time spent with God reviewing where you are in life and stating your intentions to Him. Spend time in thought and prayer.
And remember:
When the blazing sun is gone, when there’s nothing he shines upon, Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, through the night. Twinkle, twinkle o ethical star, How I wonder where you are.
My blessings for your joy, good health, and prosperity always.
Best, Mark
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