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What Ethical Strategy is a Win-Win for Everyone?

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“Men must be honest with themselves before they can be honest with others. A man who is not honest with himself presents a hopeless case.”

How do you rate yourself when it comes to ethics?

I believe all people can be categorized using the following five statements:

a) I am always ethical.
b) I am mostly ethical.
c) I am somewhat ethical.
d) I am seldom ethical.
e) I am never ethical.

Which one best applies to you? How would you characterize yourself?

Why Ethics Really Does Matter

Here are some observations I want to share with you related to how people look at ethics:

1) The majority of people place themselves in the first or second category. Most of us try to be ethical most of the time.
2) Most people who put themselves in the second category do so because of personal convenience. Conflict is inconvenient. Practicing discipline is inconvenient. Losing is inconvenient. Some people in category 2 are there because they don’t want to deal with those inconveniences.
3) Most people think that being “mostly ethical” is fine – unless they are on the losing end of someone else’s lapse in ethics.
4) One rule can help people move from “mostly ethical” to “always ethical” and close the gap between the first two categories.

What if you were given a code of conduct to govern all your ethical decision-making, would you use it?

What if this criterion was available to the masses and transcended all cultures? Now would you use it?

Do you think a global measuring stick really exists? I suggest that one does: It exists nicely in what we have coined as the “Golden Rule.”

Asking the question “How would I like to be treated in this situation?” is an integrity guideline for any situation.

Are you considering dismissing my assertion? If so, then you may be caught in the quagmire of modern thinking on ethics.

Let me explain why the “Golden Rule” can be used for your ethical navigation and why it will always point you in the right direction.

Individual rules? How about one rule for everyone?

A version of the “Golden Rule” exists in just about every culture. Take a look at the results of some research that shows how many variations on the “Golden Rule” exist:

This list has been put into alphabetical order, so that this article’s message is not interpreted to be religion-based.

Bahai, “And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for they neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself.”, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, 30, quoted at www.fragrant.demon.co.uk/golden, July 1, 2007.

Buddhism , “Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.”, Udana-Varga 5, 1, quoted in ibid.

Christianity, “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them. “, Matthew 7:12

Confucianism, “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”, Analects 15:23, quoted in ibid.

Hinduism, “This is the sum of duty; do naught unto others what you would not have them do unto you.”, Mahabharata 5, 1517, quoted in ibid.

Islam, “No one of you is a believer until he loves for his neighbor what he loves for himself.”, The traditions of Mohammed, quoted at www.thegoldenrule.net, July 1, 2007

Jainism, “A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.”, Sutrakritanga 1.11.33, quoted at ibid.

Judaism, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. This is the entire law; all the rest is commentary.”, Talmud, Shabbat 31a, quoted in “The Universality of the Golden Rule in World Religions,” www.teaching-values.com, July 1, 2007

Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria), “One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.”, Ibid

0Zoroastrianism, "Whatever is disagreeable to yourself, do not do unto others.”, Shast-na-shayast 13:29, quoted at www.thegoldenrule.net, July 1, 2007

There are really only two points when t comes to ethics. The first is a standard to follow. The second is the will to follow it.

It is clear that the Golden Rule cuts across cultural and religious boundaries and is embraced by people from nearly every part of the world. It’s the closest thing to a universal guideline for ethics as a person can find.

“Ethics is about how we meet the challenge of doing the right thing when that will cost more than we want to pay. There are two aspects to ethics: The first involves the ability to discern right from wrong, good from evil, and propriety from impropriety. The second involves the commitment to do what is right, good and proper. Ethics entails action; it is not just a topic to mull or debate.”

Good Reasons Why You and I Should Adopt the Golden Rule

The golden rule is accepted by most people.

You already have an idea of how widely accepted the Golden Rule is. But if that isn’t enough for you, a case can also be made for the Golden Rule based on common sense.

It is very difficult for people to justify demanding better treatment from others than they can give.

One of the first rules in human relations is to seek common ground with others. That’s a good guideline whether you are exploring a new friendship, meeting with a client, teaching a student, connecting with children, or arguing with your spouse. Comparing similar experiences and discovering shared beliefs can pave the way for successful relationships. The Golden Rule can be used to create common ground with any reasonable person.

The Golden Rule is Easy to Understand

People often have difficulty understanding the subject because it seems complex and intangible. One of the wonderful things about the Golden Rule is that it makes the intangible tangible. You don’t need to know the law. You don’t need to explore nuances of philosophy. You simply imagine yourself in the place of another person. Even a small child can get a handle on that. There are no complicated rules and no loopholes.

That’s not to say every ethical situation can be solved instantly by using the Golden Rule. Sometimes the hardest part of asking “How would I like to be treated in this situation?” is identifying who might be affected by the situation and the impact it might have on them. But even for the most complex issues, if you give the matter some thought, you can almost always figure it out.

The Golden Rule is a Win-Win Philosophy

Have you met people who believe that to be winners, other people must lose? They see everyone as an enemy who must be crushed.

I treat you as well as I want to be treated, you win. If you treat me likewise, I win. Where is the loser in that?

The Golden Rule is a Compass When You Need Direction

There’s harmony and inner peace to be found in following a moral compass that points in the same direction regardless of fashion or trend.

The Golden Rule does more than just give people wins. It also has internal value for anyone who practices it. It gives solid, predictable direction every time it’s used. And best of all, the Golden Rule really does work. That’s the Fundamentals of Ethics.

Insights for "The Responsible Network Marketer

“How would I like to be treated in this situation?”

What a great question to be able to ask yourself when you come up against a situation where you are unsure of how to do the “right” thing.

Could you imagine if your downline actually used this same question under similar circumstances?

Once you have answered this question, I recommend asking the next question:

“What could I do, so that I give back more than I would wish to receive in this situation?”

Always looking to give back more is another strong relationship builder.

The adoption of the “Golden Rule” for you and your business is a no-brainer!

It is accepted by everyone, easily understood by everyone, poses a win-win philosophy, and will help you navigate through just about any situation.

See You on the Beaches of the World,

Kevin "K-Man" McNabb
"The Responsible Network Marketer"

About the Author

Kevin McNabb is a professional Network Marketer who retired from the corporate world after more than 20 years to pursue his real passion: helping people. His corporate experience with Fortune 500 companies and Internet startups, coupled with his network marketing industry expertise, provides him with a fresh perspective on such topics as: thinking, dreaming, ethics, attitude, people skills, leadership, habits, personal effectiveness, decision making, personalities, power language, failure and adversity, succeeding, rejection, recognition, finances, marketing and sales. Kevin is the Founder and CEO of Global-Networking-Online.com, a personal development portal for the network marketing and affiliate marketing industries. For more information on "Ethics and the Responsible Network Marketer", please see: http://www.global-networking-online.com/catalog/Ethics_Invitation_CB.html