There is an ancient principle that ensures wealth and success that I seldom see applied in current day and time. I believe that it is a real treasured secret that works in the favor of those who understand and apply it. I call it the “principle of honor.”In 2005, there was a movie nominated for a Golden Globe that first prompted me to begin studying this principle. If you haven’t seen Hotel Rwanda, I recommend it to anyone in a position of management and leadership. It’s a true story of a hotel manager named Paul, who went to extreme measures to honor every guest who entered there. During the years that he and his employees invested sweat and resources in honoring everyone that came across their paths, they were actually building equity in their future success. For those of you who haven’t seen the movie, I will leave you hanging here and leave it up to you to watch it.
Just this year, I was reunited with a childhood acquaintance that wanted to start a business. He shared his concept with me, and I encouraged him and aided in making some provisions so that his concept could ‘make it’. In judging the influence of his competition and the economic challenges that we were all up against as a nation, I underestimated the level of success he would achieve in such a short amount of time.
In his case, the odds were stacked a little high. He had a secret for achieving success that most people would never consider–the “principle of honor.” From the first day he launched his business, he began honoring each of his clients and doing everything within his power to ensure their complete satisfaction. As I sit here now and share this with you, unemployment rates in our area exceed that of our state and nation; yet, this young entrepreneur, still in his first year, has secured a second location to expand his business.
He hasn’t invested a tremendous amount of borrowed money, and his investment has been honoring. I have spoken with several of his customers who have been so pleased with the service he provides that they continue to come back and bring friends. I have asked them what it is that makes them return. Every one of them has responded in the same way–“the way they make you feel.”
It pays to understand and apply this principle. For the next week, put honor to the test by giving as much attention to names as you do to numbers. The results will be surprising.
