#19- In a World of Excuses, Be a Man of Your Word
Have you ever been on a private jet that flew you to the gulf coast for 3 days of deep sea fishing and golf, all paid for by someone else?
Me neither but I got close one time and that’s when I learned “the nature of promises is that they remain immune to changing circumstances” (that’s a great line from “House of Cards”).
Here’s what happened.
I was a salesman and one of our suppliers wanted to say thank you for the millions we spent with them and they decided on a trip to Orange Beach. I got invited and said “yes!” immediately and couldn’t wait to get home to tell my wife. As soon as I told her about the trip she looked at the calendar and got a sad look on her face. She said “That’s Savanna’s pre-school graduation”, which means she was four years old.
I thought about it for a few days and even asked my wife if she thought I should go on the trip, and reminded her they were picking me up in a Lear jet! She said this was a decision I had to make.
Now, I had made a promise to myself when Savanna was born that I would never miss an event she was in unless I couldn’t walk. Now I was going to find out if I was a man of my word.
I finally decided I wasn’t going on the trip and went to work the next morning to let them know. The guy couldn’t believe I was walking away from three days of deep-sea fishing, golf, great food, and a private jet ride because of a preschool graduation. He even said “your daughter will never remember if you’re there or not”
I responded, “Maybe, but I will”
Now years later I know that every time you break your word, you remember. And every time you keep it, you become a little more of the man you want to be.
I’m not going to kid you, being a man of your word is HARD! And that’s why too many men don’t live out that value. If you decide to become a man of your word:
You’ll be inconvenienced
It will cost you money
You’ll have to do some things that you don’t want to do
“I promise” is a powerful phrase and shouldn’t be tossed around. Mean it when you say it.
If you still doubt it’s important to be a man of your word, think about this- How do you feel when someone breaks a promise to you?
What’s the best reputation to have? A man who keeps his word. A man who does exactly what he says he will do. Your reputation for keeping your word is so well known and proven over time, no one even thinks about needing a contract when dealing with you.
A man's reputation isn't built when keeping his word is easy. It's built when keeping his word costs him something.
Man Law
Don't promise when you're happy.
Don't reply when you're angry.
Don't decide when you're sad.
Proverbs for Men: Timeless Truths for Modern Challenges
“Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.” Proverbs 12:19