[Noporscheform]

When growing up my parents were excellent role models. Always stressing the importance of honesty and ethics and as my father always said " being able to sleep at nite without worry". I like to think that these values are the same ones that I have followed in both business and personal activities. I like to believe that my sons learned these same lessons.

Maybe I should teach them something else. In today's world is it all about " getting the better" of every counter party. Winning at all costs?

I can recount many times when people tried to exploit the weakness of a fellow employee for personal advantage - generally called "playing office politics". I can recall times catching people lying, including the CEO of the last company I worked for, who would lie to anyone if he thought it was in his personal best interest.

I have met people who will lie about anything, generally good sales people have this skill, and use it very successfully.

I changed careers at 47 and entered the world of personal finance and investments. I was shocked at the way an entire industry accepts lying as acceptable, and the consequences of getting caught are generally insignificant. The amount of regulation that exists is constantly trying to make the participants ethical. But they find new ways to pull the wool over clients eyes in order to separate them from their money.

So what values do you want your children to learn, ethics and honesty or do whatever it takes to be successful?