Author: Reuben Egolf

Reuben Egolf

The Construction Materials of Ethics

Integrity has ingredients called honesty, moral adherence, and a mind persuaded of its convictions. The true estimation of a man’s worth is not in the things he has acquired, but rather in the integrity he possesses. It becomes the cornerstone of success, because without it, our abilities and talents eventually lose their function.

When telling a lie would guarantee social acceptance, the strength required to tell the truth must be resting upon the pillars of our strongest convictions. In other words “Be Too Brave to lie.” Integrity is the financier of courage and a prospering character.

Not only does integrity support prosperity of character but entire nations. The reason for lack of growth in business and nations often can be traced to corruption. Honesty breeds trust which invites the investment of others to participate. A consistent atmosphere permeating with honest business transaction and government interaction, becomes a flourishing environment that prosperity germinates in.

Integrity is the breeding ground for innovation, sustained prosperity, growth, and creating a legacy for future impact in generations to come.

Interestingly, integrity relies on the construction material of ETHICS. The moral parameters that establish human value as a priority. It always promotes solution above profit and will take a stand for truth even when the threat of financial loss is inevitable. The strength of moral tethering must be able to hold fast though challenged by the waves of compromise and shady profits. Ethics is not a conditional term. It doesn’t blow in the wind or change with the weather. It is not a machine needing technological updates and advancements, but is the implemented core value system that has governed true success from the beginning of man.

Reason for Ethics

  1. It holds people responsible for their behavior and demands accountability
  2. A higher morale within your employees and the organization.
  3. Morale stimulates higher productivity in employees and citizens.
  4. It helps to attract new customers
  5. It builds higher customer loyalty
  6. It reduces the risk of negative press or backlash caused by doing “the wrong” things
  7. It helps to make a positive impact on the community.

A business environment that promotes and upholds strong values is usually a happier and more productive workplace; customers receive good service so they keep coming back. Ethical business practices are not necessarily the most profitable methods in the short term, but they are essential for long-term organizational survival.

If it does not come from the top leadership, it will not permeate through the rest of the organization. Employees look to their top leaders for the behaviors they are expected to model. The same principle applies to national leadership and their constituents.

Experiencing success without integrity is failure

Reuben Egolf

Reuben Egolf

Why?

What is your passion? What burns within you to see accomplished?

When going after a goal, I must have more than a whim or looking at the prestige something gives me, if I am going to reach it. It must be rooted in conviction and drive beyond the superficial. Its the why I get up in the morning and it is the reason I anticipate the next day with excitement.

Looking ahead

Where do you want to be in 10 years? What does it take to get there? Are you preparing now for then?

If I say I want to play the piano and I’m telling others about my desire but I’m not taking piano lessons; that proves I don’t have real burning passion to accomplish the goal. I want the end result but not the sacrifice it requires.

The truth of the matter is, there is no elevator to success. Instead it is a winding stairway to the top. A methodical process of decisions requiring discernment to identify the difference between opportunity and an option.

I have learned

  • there is a difference between trying to force a door not meant to open and pushing against something to make me stronger.
  • immaturity tolerated will bring a demise to my ascension on the ladder of success
  • that purpose is greater than product
  • integrity is a hinge that swing’ big doors for access
  • reputation creates expectation long before I arrive
  • to never treat people as expendable to get me where I want to go

Life isn’t an accident waiting to happen… its an experience waiting for a decision.

Reuben Egolf

Chairman of the United States Global Leadership Council

CAO of Project One Inc a division of ECOSOC at the United Nations

Reuben Egolf

Let’s Talk

The value of communication cannot be over estimated. It is the bridge over troubled waters of policy, conflict, and international tension. The absence or termination of dialogue leads to speculation, conjecture, and misconceptions of each other’s motives and reasons of behavior.

I know the political posturing of severing ties to rogue regimes by way of ceasing all communication is to bring a delegitimizing to the wayward administration. However, I rarely see the profit and the goal being reached in such a foreign policy.

The current Singapore Summit is proof of this. I know this will sound a bit unprofessional, but please humor for a moment. Someone finally picked up the phone and made a call and said “Let’s talk!”

We all understand this principle applies to marriage and all relationships for that matter. Communication improves the quality of relationship, and if an agreement cannot be reached, at least, dialogue leaves the separation at an amicable place.

Relationships never grow without the fertilization of words and they never get sprayed into the garden of lives without first – communication.

If there is tension, a rift, or a feeling of estrangement with someone, pick up the phone and say “let’s talk.” I believe you will be glad you did.

Have a wonderful day world.

Reuben Egolf

Reuben Egolf

A Motivator Called Habit

The power of habit is a motivator for trust.

Why don’t people question or wonder if the sun will rise in the morning? It has erased all questioning, wonderment, and second guessing by the power of habit. When we as leaders are habitual in our ethical practices, we will erase all suspicion and wonderment concerning our motives. Habit is produced and exercised from our character and is motivated by our core values and principles. Our belief system and code of conduct is what propels our actions in a consistent manner. Habits are repetitions of action that have become knee-jerk responses from the well worn grooves in our minds.

Habits are not a destiny, but they are the means by which a destiny is achieved. The key to exercising regularly, losing weight, becoming more productive, facilitating social change, becoming a better leader, and achieving success will be by habit. Once leadership consistently makes decisions that are ethical, and this pattern is imprinted on the minds of the citizenry, then leading that nation, community, or city will be the result of the force of character. When people trust leadership, the morale and mood of the country improves, and a calmness will ensue.

People like leadership to be predictable. They want to know that every time they can trust them to make the moral decisions with the public’s best interest at heart.

Predictability in leadership is not boring but a consistent pattern of behavior that captures the whole of society and moves them forward. Habitual moral and ethical behavior will silence the critics without wasting time in debate. Integrity will embarrass the irresponsible attacks of the opposition. In other words, character and integrity leaves such giant footprints that it swallows the shallow meaningless attacks of those looking for a little hill to make a mountain out of it.

Leaders should always remember that it is easier to maintain character than to rebuild a reputation.

Fame is a vapor,
Popularity an accident.
Riches take wings.
Only one thing endures,
Character.  – Horace Greely

Reuben Egolf

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Reuben Egolf

Leading Nations Begin with the Heart

We live in a world that boasts of being civilized, and yet the same cyclical perpetuated problems still cause many nations to implode into the same quagmire that has been present for centuries. Corruption, mismanagement, and runaway debts hinging on the back of irresponsibility, infest our economies and standard of living like a pandemic disease.

The temptation is to throw in the towel and say what will be will be. However, something rises up in many of us and declares things can be different. The fight is worth it, and the efforts of preserving human value never goes out of style.

A leader who governs must first have been governed. If he has never been under authority, and learned the beauty of subjection, then he will abuse power to build self instead of using it to build a nation. A coddled soul, a privileged person, and one who has not yielded to a power above itself, are all ingredients of abusive power. Voters must educate themselves in who is running for office. What kind of person are they… their track record… agenda… and never forget that character matters. What they do is who they are, not what they say.

Greed has corrupted more minds than anything else. True hearts of compassion that looks at their nation and says what can I do to serve, protect, and help the people is much better than one saying how do I become popular, what’s in it for me, and personal security.

Leaders who base decisions on facts and not feelings produce a stable and trusted environment. That requires the inner core of the person to be tethered to the pylons of ethics and morality.

What are some ethics to insure stability and produce an equilibrium between justice and fairness.

Honesty – Keeps Promises – Loyal – Law Abiding – Respects Others

Below is a true story of what a real leadership heart should look like. 

Over 200 years ago, a man in civilian clothes rode past a small group of tired and battled weary soldiers. They were digging what appeared to be an important defensive position.

The leader of the group wasn’t making any effort to help. He just shouted orders and threatened to punish the group if the work wasn’t completed within the hour.

“Why aren’t you helping?” the stranger asked on horseback.
“I’m in charge! The men do as I tell them,” said the leader. He added “Help them yourself if you feel so strongly about it.”
To the mean leader’s surprise the stranger got off his horse and helped the men until the job was finished.

Before he left the stranger congratulated the men for their work, and approached the confused leader.
“You should notify top command next time your rank prevents you from supporting your men – and I will provide a more permanent solution,” the stranger said.

Up close, the now humbled leader recognized General George Washington and was taught a lesson he would never forget!

Reuben Egolf

.A nation becomes beautiful on the outside when there is stability on the inside

Reuben Egolf

Nations Rise and Fall on…

Nations fall apart when leadership  is weak in ethics and values. It weakens the inward moral compass to become an unreliable source of direction, and eventually dashes the national vessel against the rocky shores of destruction.

Don’t mistake the lack of values to lack of intelligence. Many despots have been educated in some of the greatest Universities on the planet. However, they were instructed on how to manage resources and build PR campaigns, but were never instructed how to manage their personal life. They never learned the truth of how important personal ethics and values would be in the effectiveness of their leadership.  Learning the mechanics of governing or managing is one thing, but developing one’s character is quite something else.

To leave a lasting legacy on future generations; it will require a moral code of ethics that are adhered to.

The inward establishment of moral principles and ethics act as a security system. It alerts and sounds the alarm when outward temptations and circumstances assail our lives with the purpose to compromise ethical standards. These outward pressures can threaten our positive influence by significantly reducing our willpower, common sense, and better judgment. These honorable principles safeguard us from personal intruders shaped in the form of our own human frailties, that cause us to rationalize immoral behavior and take ethical shortcuts. Eventually we feel justified and everyone else is the blame for the failure, and the exploitation of people becomes the norm.

How a person treats those who can do nothing for him, will demonstrate the inward character of the individual.

The inner life of a future leader must be developed first before the mechanics and processes of leadership. If we do the latter first, pride and ego will mushroom into a tyrant of using people as pawns to achieve a selfish vision. The legacy ends when the leader dies in such a case. If a future leader develops the inner-self into a concrete foundation of unwavering adherence to the high standard of morals which dictate right and wrong, and valuing others as superior to any material object. Then, ALL people will benefit and a legacy will be solidified for generations to come.

The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly. – Jim Rohn

Reuben Egolf – Chairman of the United States Global Leadership Council

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Reuben Egolf

New Leadership Principles

The first day on the job, in a new position, or another department with a company can be exciting, but too often is short-lived. The reception is usually a warm and friendly acceptance along with a degree of enthusiasm. In this temporal experience we can make assumptions that will lead us to a frustrating future leaving us wondering where we went wrong when we appeared to start so well. There are mistakes we make as leaders by basing decisions on a false premise. Here are some observations that may help us avoid pitfalls.

Ron Edmonson listed some pertinent issues a new leader will face.

Assuming people trust you before they really do. New leaders often gain a window of approval. Everyone appears nice to the new person. People will appear excited to have a new leader on board – or at least pretend they are until they learn whether they really are or not. Either way, people in the early days can often make a new leader feel very loved and very popular. While this is indeed a blessing, the leader must understand trust is not the same thing as popularity. Trust is almost never granted simply by arrival or by position. It must be earned over time and experience.

 

Bashing the past while attempting to get to the future. When you make fun or speak badly of days gone by you often alienate people who were there before you arrived. When you talk about the mistakes of the past – even if they are obvious – you are often talking about the people you are now trying to lead. They may not have even made some of the mistakes themselves, but they were there when they were made. They remained through them and when you diminish the past you’re diminishing them or their loyalty. Don’t forget the past – good or bad – is a part of their personal story.

 
Assuming nothing good was done before you got there. In reality there were probably lots of good things done in the past. It’s arrogant to think otherwise. They may not be experiencing their best days now – and, that’s probably part of the reason you are there – but, you’ll be better off to help people rediscover some things which were done well than to ignore any good that ever happened before.

I’ve made these mistakes and can attest to the veracity of this observations. Human tendency is to be excited at something new and fresh. However, once the newness wears off, we begin to see what time and relationship begin to expose. The wedding bliss loses its butterfly feelings when the spouse begins to exhibit things that familiarity no longer overlooks. But, this is when commitment becomes our stabilizer and keeps the overall vision alive and we press on to our goals.

As a leader in a new position, operate with patience. Assess the environment and expect resistance but don’t self-inflict unnecessary obstruction through immature decisions based on the temporal emotions of the present ignoring the inevitable conflicts of changing opinions. Don’t be swayed and played by flattery, but keep focused on the task at hand and adjust your attitude to operate with tact and wisdom. When we lose our pride we nullify the power of offense and retaliation for our feelings being hurt or our insecurity being challenged.

Dr. Reuben Egolf

Chairman of the United States Global Leadership Council

USGLC

 

Reuben Egolf

Burundi an Emerging Success

The United States Global Leadership Council represented by it’s Chairman Reuben Egolf and Vice-President Everett Hershey had the privilege of visiting Burundi in how they could successfully co-labor in building infrastructures. One of the members of the USGLC, Andrea Sabino, CEO of Vernon Capitol made the trip also to help create opportunities for exports.

We had read the reports and news that Burundi was unstable and violence was a norm. NOTHING could have been further from the truth. Amb. Albert Nasasagare, chief protocol officer and senior advisor to the President took us on a tour of the country, and peace was obvious and the mood of the people were hopeful for their future.

The privilege was ours to be invited to participate in a Community Action Day led by His Excellency, President Pierre Nkurunziza. He led by example by picking up a shovel and scooping cement for an assembly line of people passing it to its destination. The Burundian people are taking responsibility for the nation and determining their own destiny.

Burundi is building and now is the time for investors and corporations to take a serious look at this emerging market of growth.

Any questions you can visit our website or contact our office in Washington DC.

1717 Pennsylvania Ave NW Suite 1025 Washington, DC 20006
Email: usglc@gmail.com
Tel:  202-559-9197

United States Global Leadership Council

Reuben Egolf

Leadership Encouragement and Wisdom

Don’t waste time being drawn into tabloid triviality disguised as pertinent issues. Focus on the issues, goals, and strategy laid out to get there. Speak about what matters. What you address, your words give power to. There are a lot of dead things now alive because someone chose to waste their time and give power to it.

Every challenge doesn’t need debated. A lion doesn’t run around every time a dog barks. Choose your battles wisely and chart your own course not letting the media set your agenda.

Always be humble but don’t mistake that for weakness. Humility is your greatest asset as a leader. The greater the pressure, the greater God’s strength will be demonstrated. God’s power flourishes in the garden of humility producing a fruit of lasting stability.

Be diligent and vigilant. Power-hungry wolves circle the seats of power in a never ending parade. Some people come into your life as a Blessing and others come into your life as a Lesson. Learn to discern the difference.

Give– but don’t allow yourself to be used.
Love– but don’t let your heart be abused.
Trust– but don’t be naïve.
Listen to others– But don’t lose your own voice

Leadership becomes a reality when a mindset shifts from being a victim to creating results and taking ownership of decisions. 

 

Reuben Egolf 

Chairman

United States Global Leadership Council

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