Business Fit Magazine August 2017 Issue 1 | Page 51

Article 49
M
any years ago I heard an interesting story about my father,
who was a very successful businessman in the Venezuelan
music industry. According to the story, which I later had the
chance to confirm directly with him, back in the 70’s he had struck one
of the most important and expensive music deals of the decade on a
mere handshake. No written contract, no impenetrable legalese, no
expensive lawyers, just a simple “I give you my word” and a handshake
between two men of honor. This oral and honorable contract, based
on mutual trust, stood for more than 20 years until my father sold his
company.
In a world of post-truths, half truths and fake news, trust, this most
fragile and elusive of human emotions, is hardly appreciated and rarely
to be found. And trust, in business as in life, is based on being truthful
and standing by your word, a word which, without the intention of
honoring it, is as meaningless as any bit of fake news or post-truths.
Although depleted and up against the ropes, the little trust still to be
found out there is literally the glue holding together the fabric of a
seemingly unraveling society.
Can you imagine a world in which, when you say something, you
actually mean it and stand to it? In which, out of self respect, you
honor your word, win or lose? In which you are not always looking
for a backdoor to the easy way of making a quick buck? In this era
where egotism Trumps generosity and the Me Trumps the We, where
shortsightedness is Trumping the planet itself, can you imagine what
would happen if people in government and business would start
acting honorably and responsibly? For honor also means being an
adult and assuming your responsibilities.
In short, we are searching
for people of honor.
I must make clear that I am not talking about an antiquated, rigid
and militaristic code of honor, although the military and, not so
paradoxically, the mob and the gang systems are seemingly the only
institutions still referring to an, albeit empty, code of honor. I am also
not talking about a code of ethics, which, although wonderful to have
and to adhere by, is imposed upon us from the outside by religious
and social institutions (including family), which means that it may vary
from country to country and from culture to culture, thus representing
a locus of differences and conflict. What I am referring to is honor as
an inner core value, an inner guiding beacon of certainty, a clear path
of inner stability and outward trust independent from our cultural
background and any other conditioning factors. The surprising fact is
that most of us already have this inner core of latent honor built into
our hearts and minds. Why otherwise do most of us cry as we watch
movies where honor comes to the fore in one way or another? Why
does this inner stance, this inner value move so many of us to tears
when we see it manifested in the world? Why do most of us applaud
the captain who is the last to leave a sinking ship? Because we identify
with honor and feel it very deeply. We long to trust, we thirst to trust
and are always, whether consciously or unconsciously, looking for
people we can deposit our trust in. In short, we are searching for
people of honor. Too bad there are not that many around.
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