It is refreshing to have Maxwell remind us that integrity goes much deeper than what is legal. His thesis is that a form of the Golden Rule, (Do unto to others, as you would have them do unto you,) is the only way to make tough, ethical decisions in any area of your life.
One of the problems I had was that the book really is geared towards leaders of companies, and doesn't address what you are to do if you are caught in a situation where you really don't have any power over the decisions of the company, but you are forced to execute those decisions, even if they are unethical. He praises whistle-blowers, but he doesn't seem to openly advocate the practice.
To his credit, Maxwell does state that using the Golden Rule will not always bring you success, but he states it as a kind of afterthought. His example of a high school football coach benching his players for underage drinking and then losing the big game because of their absence is hard to apply to a real life busniness situation. Having a tough sales deal on the line that can make or break the company and mean that you or people you work with or work under will lose their jobs, or their bonuses can be a little more stressful and make white lies, (especially when they are advocated by the higher-ups,) seem more inconsequential. And please understand that I am not saying that it makes them more right.
Like most of Maxwell's books it lays out some great food for thought and it really will help you to think about your actions and how you conduct yourself. However, also like Maxwell's other books, it doesn't give you a clear roadmap of how to succeed in this area.
Using the time-tested Golden Rule, John Maxwell dispels the myth of business ethics by stating that only people can be ethical--and we must do so in all areas of our lives because integrity demands consistent behavior. In short, character counts!
The author identifies the five most common resons why people compromise their ethics: pressure, pleasure, power, pride, and priorities. And in Chapter 6, we're told how to seize our golden opportunity by changing ourselves. "If you want to be able to pursue golden opportunities," Maxwell says, "then pursue the development of strong character first."
This small book (only 124 pages) is easy to read and includes some dynamic discussion questions at the end of each chapter. But don't let the size of this powerful resource keep you from overlooking the big message that's contained within: "You can go for the gold, or you can go for the Golden Rule. Those who go for the Golden Rule not only have a chance to achieve monetary wealth, but also to receive other benefits that money can't buy. People who live by the Golden Rule give themselves a chance to have it all!"
This book is destined for the best-seller list. I like it so much I'm adding it to the recommending reading list of my comprehensive mentor program licensed to Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Thank you, John, for telling it like it is--and, more important, for leading by example.