Decisions Are Final. Period.

Worked for a fellow for 25 years. He had few rules. The rules were simple yet steadfast.

One such rule was that he was in charge and in control of everything. His word was final. The buck stopped with him. Period. End of discussion. Though very real, the joke was that you would land in a lot of trouble if you did not stay up with him or if you got ahead of him.

We talked through a lot of issues, plans, goals, problems, strategies, directions. We argued, made our points and counter points. Others were involved and made their arguments, positions, and opinions known. All options were explored.

When all the talking and discussing was done, a decision was made, and we all walked out of the room on the same page to execute the order regardless of our points of view. The play had been called.

Decisions are important and final. We talked through a lot. Sometimes, decisions had to be made without the pleasure of consultations and talking it through with others.

Regardless of how or when a decision was made, it was still final. Everyone still goes forth and executes.

Still, though not very often over those 25 years, somebody, usually an individual, still had a burr under their saddle blanket with the decision. They could not accept because of their ego, arrogance, or incompetence, that they did not get their way or thought or felt the decision was somehow flawed, wrong, bad, unfair…

Here’s what would happen…

If any officer or employee who would not or could not accept the decision, could not or would not execute the order for whatever their reason, and did not fully believe that his decision was final and went above his head to member of the board of directors to plead their case, he would immediately fire you.

Conversely, if he was doing something illegal, immoral, or unethical, and you didn’t go to the board of directors, he would immediately fire you.

He knew the difference between right and wrong.

There is a level of understanding between right and wrong that few people in power and authority rarely comprehend.

We see that lack of comprehension today in politics, government, business, education, medicine, manufacturing, technology, and even in organizations we are led to believe exist to help and serve people.

This man had this comprehension.

So, as we, our company, got larger, and while he severely disliked written policies, this became codified in policy, the employee handbook, and stated loud and proud in our written non-negotiable core values as a beacon of light for right and wrong and not because some consultant or regulatory agency said we had to.

“Integrity, Character, Our Reputation is everything. DO WHAT’S RIGHT – always, every time, any time, no matter what it costs – no matter who it offends – no matter the perceived consequence – encourage it – reward it – revere it – make it the mantle that we are known for – It is expected.”

“The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” ~ Proverbs 4:18