Are ethics in business an anachronism

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by gacook

I loathe sales, but unfortunately, I'm kinda good at it. When I was in the Army, they stuck me as a Recruiter...for 4 years. Of all the lying, sleazeball sales professions out there, Military Recruiters tend to take the cake (at least in reputation). At the time I was selected, I was a business major in college. I read/heard/whatever an adage one time that if a used car salesman sells you a great car, you might tell a friend or 2. If he sells you a piece of junk, you'll tell everyone you know. I used that when I was recruiting. Recruiters lie, A LOT. I never did. I recruited during the height of the Iraq war and was brutally honest with every candidate I spoke to and their parents.

I still talk to some of these "kids" today, over 10 years later. Business (repeat business) is all about rapport in my mind. I'm out of Sales, hopefully forever, but I did learn a hell of a lot when doing it.

I had a similar experience as a "detailer" in the Navy. I spent 18 months at BUPERS in Millington, TN managing the careers of a whole bunch of officers. A Detailer can literally shape the life of the specific service member, where they live, can they promote to the next rank, etc. It is a very humbling experience.

I never once lied or gave false hope. I still get calls today, over 12 years later, from guys asking me for advice.

Owning a business now is challenging but ethics are our central tenet: My partner and I asked ourselves first who we wanted to be, how we were going to do it. Once we settled that, we figured out how to make money.

I can tell the OP that it is a constant vigil avoiding the unscrupulous and finding the ethical. There is nothing wrong with leaving money on the table if the folks who want to deal with you spike the "D-Bag" meter.