EXACTLY WHAT ARE YOU MODELING?

The Highest Form of Flattery

Isn't it amazing how often children imitate their parents? I've noticed how little boys love to mimic their fathers' activities and gestures, repeating the "grown-up" phrases their fathers use. It can be endearing to watch how much they admire their role models.

And no doubt you understand why TV stations televise public announcements warning parents to keep their prescription drugs locked up and inaccessible to kids. Children grow up watching their parents take them and figure that's what they should try, too, as some pills generate a lot of curiosity because they resemble candy.

But as kids mature, they start selecting the behaviors that best represent who they are—or at least who they think they are. Sometimes they adopt the negative, self-destructive behaviors of the wrong celebrities, peers, or troubled parents, and other times they adopt life-enhancing, healthful, or beneficial habits. If they're wise enough to learn from their mistakes, the results will determine which choices they'll keep and which ones they'll discard.

Representing Your Ideals

I'm sure you remember starting your process of self-discovery, and, frankly, it never ends. When you take a good look at your bearing, your style of dress, your word choices, the activities you indulge in, and the way you approach challenges, you want to make sure they display your personal and business brands.

Do Your Actions and Values Match Up?

Sometimes there can be a disturbing mismatch between the ideals you uphold and how you conduct yourself.

For example, I'm sure you've seen doctors counsel their patients to reduce their alcohol intake, stop smoking, cut down on saturated fat, or do something similar to prevent clogged arteries so they can improve their cardiac health.

But when you see those same medical experts standing in a break room chain-smoking or gulping smothered yuck from a hot dog wagon for lunch, you might be tempted to say "Well, see, they aren't even doing those things themselves to prevent a heart attack. So forget it."

The Cost of Abandoning Core Values

Sadly, you might even see members of the clergy ushered into courtrooms and sued for stealing from their congregations. It's still shocking to me when they get caught perpetrating various scams, misappropriating funds, using them to finance illicit relationships, or doing other criminal acts that violate the same moral code they encourage others to abide by.

Trust—A Sticky Issue

And you know how it is when you witness discrepancies like that. Feelings of betrayal, confusion, and distrust immediately alter your impression of that person. And as a business person or employee, you know how a public fall from grace can directly affect your bottom line, your close relationships, and your health and well-being.

Huge fines and incarceration can strip anyone of their energy and their achievements. These descriptions are cautionary tales of the consequences of losing focus on how essential it is to BE a living example of the values and recommendations you urge others to follow.?So yes, living in a way misaligned with your core values comes at a significant cost.

No one expects you to be a saint. But you can make a concerted effort daily to" take the high road" and exercise discipline. It pays to demonstrate class and integrity in both tangible and intangible ways.?

Aim for the Higher Standard

Let me give you a couple of examples. If you help people with marketing campaigns and one of your values is to do so at a fair and feasible price point for your clients, then you can't expect them to remain loyal if you suddenly go greedy and triple your fees.

If you handle real estate and teach others about upholding a high level of ethics, you should never encourage clients to assume a loan, combined with other expenses, that will exceed their ability to pay. And it would serve them best if you were forthcoming as to any significant problems with the listed property, local infrastructure, or nearby neighbors.?

Some people welcome the challenges and proceed with the purchase despite that level of honesty. And as a realtor, your responsibility is to negotiate a fair price on behalf of a buyer—even if it means you will earn a slightly smaller commission.

The Fruits of Your Labor

Before you ask the inevitable questions like "Are you serious?" or "What's in it for me?", I can tell you from my observations that modeling ethical behavior can eventually generate lucrative deals. People will regard you as someone they can trust to tell the truth, negotiate in good faith, deliver as promised, and consider their needs a priority. And you'll most likely watch your referrals increase as a result.

Think about it. It would be disconcerting if you saw a mind-body health and wellness coach like me sitting at a burger joint, slathering on the condiments, inhaling strawberry shakes, and replacing daily workouts with excuses. Or what if you heard me yelling at people all the time instead of calmly and positively asserting myself??

I have said this before, but people are not fools; they can spot a phony. If the methods you teach or the products you present don't appear to work for you, your potential clients will have no faith that those methods will benefit them.

Conclusion

So to wrap this up, remember that it's not just children who observe and follow their parents' behaviors. Adults, too, look to leaders and experts like you to learn and apply what will work in their own lives. They use your behavior to indicate how they should treat themselves and others. So be careful what you model.

When you live a lifestyle that aligns with your highest values, that choice will manifest in your consistent actions and transparent communication. In that case, prepare for success: you will open the doors to attract quality clients, see both them and your business grow, and experience a deep and fulfilling sense of purpose.

Would you like to explore the benefits of mind-body health and wellness techniques to see how they could uplift and enhance your life? Then we need to grab some coffee or tea and have a chat! Contact me at [email protected] to make that happen by phone or Zoom.