Defining Your Core Themes: Integrity
After several weeks of intensive assessment, discussions and written exercises, Steve discovered that his number one Core Theme was integrity. Over the course of weeks, he gave many examples of people that he admired in his life and the reasons he admired them. His reasons always centered around their honesty, ethics and personal values, which for him meant they were people of high integrity. They did what they said they were going to do and kept their word at all costs. Steve believed that he was this type of individual and needed to find work that allowed him to act with a high degree of integrity and honesty.
In his search for a position in the business world, specifically marketing, operations or management, he came across a terrific opportunity to be the CEO of a start-up company. After several meetings with the CEO and negotiations around salary, Steve accepted the position that was offered to him. In the next few days, Steve received another opportunity to join a different company. His aggressive networking had begun to pay off. The second opportunity provided Steve with double the money he was offered from the first opportunity as well as making it possible for him to not have to travel.
Core Themes Provide Career Guidance
Steve called me to get my opinion about the situation. He asked me what I thought he should do. He was scheduled to begin his new job in a few days and explained to me that there was nothing in writing between he and the prospective employer, but they had shaken hands on the deal and he verbally accepted. Now with the second offer in hand, Steve was befuddled and wasn't sure what to do. You see, if he accepted the second offer, the money would have allowed him to build a lakefront home for his children to enjoy the summers and not require him to travel as much, which would have meant he could spend more quality time with his family.
When Steve asked me the question of what he should do, I asked him two questions back. The first was, "What does your wife think you should do?" Secondly, "How does the situation relate to your Core Themes?" Of course, Steve knew exactly what he had to do and said back to me that he, after some reflection and listening to my comments as well as his wife's, knew that he had no other choice but to follow through with his commitment to the first CEO.
Integrity is this individual's primary Core Theme. He lives by it, preaches about it and swears by it. Breaking his word would not have been acceptable to him, and he would have felt hypocritical.
Again, we can see the power of following one's Core Themes. It is not always easy or convenient, but it is absolutely necessary if one is to be happy and at peace with oneself.
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Career Case Studies