Entrepreneur’s Dilemma: Integrity Over Quick Gain
What we dive into in this episode:
- Choosing moral integrity over money, reputation, and business
- Leaving a legacy of integrity for your children
- Identifying with titles and ranks rather than Christ
- Finding your worth in Christ
- Humbling yourself in your business
- Defining integrity for yourself
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Losing Integrity at Work
Haley and Noel are both entrepreneurs who value moral integrity, but how easy could it be for them to lose that for their own gain? They have both had many opportunities to put integrity aside for money or fame, but that would mean lying to and deceiving their customers. It can be so tempting when you’re in a place of need when you need the money or the recognition, but is it worth it? There is greater worth to grow your business slowly with integrity than quickly with none.
But why is Integrity Important? Many bible verses about integrity help you to realize the importance of it. What does integrity mean to you? To Noel and Haley, it means choosing peace over a paycheck.
Haley and Noel’s Stories: Know There is Peace in Christ
Both entrepreneurs have faced opportunities to put their moral integrity aside for money. Their stories can even inspire you to put your integrity first no matter the struggle. Despite the money offered, it isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be because, at the end of the day, money is not going to fill that void. Business can be shady and money can make people do crazy things.
Their stories can even inspire you to put your integrity first no matter the struggle. Proverbs 22:1 (TPT): A beautiful reputation is more to be desired than great riches, and to be esteemed by others is more honorable than to own immense investments.
For Noel, it was working for a company that was crumbling internally but wanted her to put on a fake face to customers and make it seem like it was all okay. Something would go wrong and they’d want it covered up, but how could that go against her integrity? The only way to keep her business up was to lie and pretend everything was fine for the sake of her career. She decided to step away based on how it aligned with her values, but it wasn’t easy.
God will provide for you and it is important to know that because it can be a hard season of letting go. There are more opportunities out there and it is worth it to choose your peace over a paycheck. Sometimes we unknowingly put our identity in superficial things like our jobs and money, but our identity is in Christ. He has a plan for us all. God has a future determined for us that no CEO can guarantee you. You have to know who you are, where your worth comes from, and who Christ says you are. You have to trust God because you are His masterpiece, and you are so loved by Him. At the end of the day, cling to that. Proverbs 10:9 (TPT): The one who walks in integrity will experience a fearless confidence in life, but the one who is devious will eventually be exposed.
As an entrepreneur, Haley understands how easy it is to just cut corners. When she first entered the copywriting business, she was told to do these promotions called “VIP Days” where she would make a sales page in a day for quick money. She did a total of 1, extremely stressful, VIP Day and has not done another since. Why? Why wouldn’t she want to keep getting that easy money? She knew that it was not her best work so it was not benefiting the customer. She realized that she sacrificed her integrity for a paycheck.
Copywriting is an art and science. It is 80% research and behind-the-scenes work, then 20% writing. There are copywriting templates out there, but it isn’t tailored to your business so it is not as beneficial to you. She could easily make a template, upload it, and charge 500 dollars for it. But here would that leave her integrity? 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NIV): “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Listen to the episode to hear the full story.
