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Integrity is the essence of everything that is successful

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Image is what people think we are; integrity is what we really are. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun, fast or easy; and choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them.”

An aging king realised that he had no one to take over the throne. He decided to adopt a heir. He launched a competition and 10 boys made it to the top.

The king said to them, “I have one last test and whoever comes top will become my adopted son and heir to my throne.”

He then gave each boy a seed of corn and told them to take it home, plant and nurture it for three weeks.

The boys took their seeds and ran home to plant them. At one home, the boy and his parents were sad when the seed failed to sprout. The boy had done everything but failed. His friends advised him to buy a seed and plant it but his God-fearing parents who had always taught him honesty refused.

The day came and the boys went to the palace. Nine boys were successful.

The king went to each boy asking; “Is that what came out of the seed I gave you?” And each boy said, “Yes, your majesty”.

The king asked the last boy: “What did you do with the seed I gave you?” The boy said, “I planted it and cared for it your majesty, but it failed to sprout.”

The king said, “I gave these boys boiled seeds and a boiled seed cannot sprout. If a king must have one quality, it must be honesty and only this boy passed the test.”

Integrity is the essence of everything successful: Honesty, integrity and truth are of utmost importance for continued success. Success achieved with comprised integrity is a path to failure.

Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions based on values rather than personal gain.

Life gives you three choices in times of adversity; give in, give up or give it all you’ve got. The best choice in the long term is the one driven by your values not your short-term gain.

Integrity costs nothing but its value is priceless. If you don’t stand for something, especially what you believe in, you are bound to fall for anything.

Image is what people think we are; integrity is what we really are.

Integrity is not something you can show off to others. It is how you behave when no one is watching you.

Wisdom is knowing the right path to take; integrity is taking it.

If you have integrity, nothing matters. If you don’t have integrity nothing else matters.