Integrity: /ɪnˈtɛɡrɪti/“The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles / the state of being whole and undivided.”A very powerful word, thrown around casually in many irrelevant contexts. More often used by speaker/presented to add ‘value’ to their content or to simply to look ‘clever’ or something very ‘intellectual’ or morally higher.To understand the importance of Integrity in one’s life better, let me share a story with you.This was story in one of our language text books when I was in secondary school. Don’t remember the exact words and the plot. However, it has created a tremendous impact on me. I am reconstructing that story here based on my emotional memory.Many moons ago, there lived a King. Ruled his realm with help of his council of ministers. To ensure he has the pulse of his people, he used to disguise and go out and about to mingle with the masses. He was always accompanied by his trusted prime minister.On one such night, they were passing by the busy street of rich “Nagar Seths”. Every shop on this street belonged to one of the few super rich business folks. They were the source of finance for the entire nation. The elites of the elite had their presence in this street.Suddenly the King and his minister stopped on sight of a beggar woman. She had deformed body, possibly suffering some disease and one could say extremely poor. However, what stopped the King and his minister was the sight of a handsome young child. Child was beautiful, well formed, bright and healthy. People were giving her alms due to feeling pity for the boy.King suspected that the beggar woman might have kidnapped the child. He asked the minister to enquire. Next day, minister reported that all the information points towards the fact the woman, indeed is the mother of that beautiful child.King was intrigued even more. He ordered his minister to find out the father of the child. Minister at once set off to investigate. All his search ended in vain. Finally, the minister decides to confront the beggar woman. He asked her about the father of the little boy. Her answer was heartbreaking. She said, “Sir, a poor woman like me, men tend to take advantage and it happens so often, it is hard to keep a track of them.”This was not helping the minister as he was still nowhere close to finding out who the father was. Time was running out. He launched a desperate attempt to find the truth but nothing.On the last day of his given 30 days, he was walking back from the beggar woman, through that street of “Nagar Seths” when something caught his eyes.There was this young man, probably son of a Nagar Seth, sitting by the steps, waiting for his staff to clean up and close the shop so they all can go home. It was late after the evening. This young man felt like eating a pan.He rolled out his packet, took a leaf and realised that the Lime (chuna) was dry. He looked around. The staff busy winding up the shop. He looked in his glass and there was no water in it. In that desperation of eating a pan, he bent down, dipped his finger in the water running by his steps, wet the Lime and continued to prepare his pan.Ministers eyes brightened up. He asked the young man to attend Kings court the next day.In the court, minister confronted the young man with that beggar woman and her child. The man was reluctant but broke down when King threatened to punish him. He confessed to his misdeed.----I stop the story here as no need to go into details beyond this.There are moments in our lives when we just take the short cut. It could be out of laziness, out of compulsion, out of jealousy or simply because we really don’t think about long term implications.In my talks, “The I Factor Theory” … I emphasise on “Self” a lot.In life, be it personal aspect, be it your business, career, job, your coaching, your relationship … you should always be honest. Knowing your limitations is important. Knowing strength too is important. Simply subject knowledge and bunch of certificates are not sufficient.A truly successful person is the one who goes above and beyond the cliché of higher moral grounds. One who demonstrates Integrity.Trust me, life will throw challenges at you to test your true Integrity.Would you be willing to compromise for an immediate quick gain or will you stand up for virtues of ethics and what you truly believe in?Remember, in the end whatever you decide, will reflect on your work. Especially if you are in training/coaching business.Have a nice day,Hemant Desai Presents …PS: Want to live like a King tomorrow then sleep like a King tonight.