I am a living, breathing example of the adage you learn more from your mistakes than you do from your success. That’s one of the great things about being involved with young people; mentoring, teaching, you get lots of do-overs and many chances to look back and see what works, what didn’t, and how you can improve. It’s all about learning.
Also along the way we have pointed out that it is about the people and the places more than the things…another lesson we pick up maybe as we get older. One of those people I have learned a great deal from in a relatively short period of time is Dr. Harvey Schiller. HWS has had a storied career as Commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, head of YES Network and Turner Sports, head of the U.S. Olympic Committee, Brigadier General in the Air Force, Chairman of America’s Cup and on and on. However with all the titles and the stories and connections one thing always came through; integrity tied to the truth gets you to great places where you sometimes you never thought you could get to.
“If you tell the truth, you’ll remember what you said.”
I was reminded about the “Don’t Lie” when reading about the Mets dedication of their press box to their longtime…and still active…PR maven jay Horwitz this past weekend. In the mlb.com piece, Jay was asked for his best advice to build relationships…there it was “Don’t Lie.”
We work in an industry that is based on spin, and often say, usually jokingly, never let the facts get in the way of a good story. However helping to massage messages, or telling a good story (an invaluable trait these days in building a personal brand) can never be confused with lying and then using half-truths to hope things go away.
We live in a world where if you are a public persona in any way shape or form, you cannot hide. It is the world we live in, and many thrive in that environment. You can fool people with spin to a point, but when it comes to facts and telling the truth, especially in a very public environment, the truth will eventually come out. You have to be authentic and people will give you a pass…and if you get caught, own up to it smartly, quickly and effectively and move on. The sooner the better.
Take a second, stay calm, realize the mistake, DON’T LIE and move on. Can you deflect and reframe yes? Yes. Is it Ok to say “I don’t know” or “I can’t tell you that right now?” yes. How about “Let me get back to you.” All different from bold faced lies or alternative facts.
Simple rule to live by. One we are taught hopefully at an early age and one that again proves that in the age we are in today, you can’t hide or think you can outsmart people when the truth is the best message.
Onward.
