I read in The Wall Street Journal...

To be honest, I’ve always wanted to start an article this way. Quoting TWSJ, I presumed, would make me sound as if I were an intellectual. The only problem is, truth be told, I don’t read The Wall Street Journal.

I was reminded of this yesterday when I took the back entrance into our office building and discovered the steps littered with old Journals (I assume delivered to a previous tenant who did not forward their address). I picked one up and, for the first time, read an issue. Okay, with all candor, I only skimmed the headlines; however, one article did catch my attention:

Dateline: January 14, 2008
“Why CEOs Need To Be Honest,” by Kaja Whitehouse.

The truth (and this might shock you): Some CEOs have a problem telling the truth.

Why are these men and women less than honest?

Some of the qualities quoted:
* Must always appear in control
* Have to conceal defeat of their programs and ideas
* Hard to admit they don’t have all the answers
* Want to imply confidence
* Need to put the best light on a bad situation

“What does this have to do with me?” you ask?

Simple: We are each CEOs of our own lives and our “board” is our family, friends, co-workers, and even trivial contacts. Also, to me, part of the “Spirit” of Knights of MSA is the courage to be truthful. I know, "Easier said than done!" But, no one ever said that being a Knight was easy.

So, today, thanks to The Wall Street Journal and Kaja Whitehouse, I am reminded to ask myself: “How honest am I with my board of directors?”

I raise a pint and toast the courage to be truthful.

Sir Bowie of Greenbriar

P.S. If the tenant comes back looking for yesterday's copy of The Wall Street Journal, don't tell him that I took it (damn, this integrity thing IS hard).