Do What You Say You’ll Do
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There are many approaches to summarizing libertarian philosophy, whether it’s “
The Golden Rule,”
rugged individualism, or
the complete works of Ayn Rand.
Personally, I embrace Richard Maybury’s approach most, when he introduces two laws in “Whatever Happened to Justice?”:
- Do all you have agreed to do, and
- Do not encroach on other persons or their property.
I find that most libertarians handle the second of those laws quite well, as most of us subscribe to the
non-aggression principle. Where we can ALL, libertarian and non-libertarian alike, use a bit of help is with the first.
Carl Jung is quoted as saying, “You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.”
What you do, or don’t do, is the foundation of your reputation to others. We’ve all heard that someone’s reputation precedes them, and a reputation can often tell others more about you that any words you may communicate. Keeping in mind that
you might be the first libertarian someone has met, shouldn’t you be a shining example for who and what we are?
When we can’t live up to doing what we say we will do, we lose our credibility. Losing credibility is a deal breaker for someone trying to persuade others to examine libertarianism. It’s like putting a question mark at the end of every promise we make and every position we take. Would you really want to take a chance on losing that trust? We have many other things to overcome without having to rebuild credibility.
So, how can we make sure we live up to part of living a libertarian lifestyle and embracing #1 above?
First, don’t take on too much. Often, we see a void and we step up to fill it. As a former manager in the service industry, I realize that we often over promise and under deliver, but if we flip that, we can make sure we meet our commitments by setting reasonable expectations and wowing with our results. Switch to an “under promise, over deliver” approach and see the results of keeping things under control.
Next, honestly evaluate the level of effort or time necessary to do a good job meeting the commitments you make. Something may seem to be quick or easy on the surface, but it can really bite you when it’s more complex than you first thought. Being honest about what it will take, along with not taking on too much will help you to do what you say you’ll do.
Finally, when you can’t make things happen on the timeline you’ve set, make sure you you offer explanations, not excuses. Excuses are flimsy, and the real reason is often the better route, especially if it’s humbling.
Are you ready to do what you way you’ll do?
