Bill Daniels was someone who believed that his success in business
was due to his values and principles. He constantly sought to
share these with those he came into contact with. He would never
miss an opportunity to share his philosophy with people.
Bill always grouped his values into several key areas. These
were areas that he felt were most important to him and reflected
how he lived his life and built his business.
Select one of these value areas from the list below, and read
some of Bill's own personal statements reflecting these values.
LOYALTY
I’VE ALWAYS told people that they don’t work
for me, they work with me. And that means things like respect
and courtesy go both ways. People want more than a paycheck for
their efforts. They want to know you care about them. They want
you to listen to their ideas, to be open to their suggestions,
and to provide them with a good office environment. Most of all,
they want you to offer criticism when necessary and a pat on the
back when they deserve it. There’s a common misconception
in the work place. People always feel they have to please the
boss. If a company is to be truly successful, it has to be the
other way around.
WHEN YOU PUT YOUR LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE, you realize how
little time there is to make something truly significant out of
it. To some people this might mean acquiring a lot of possessions.
To others, building a business or owning property. And there are
those whose lives won’t be fulfilled unless they achieve
fame and fortune. There’s nothing wrong with any of these
aspirations, but for me they pale in comparison to individuals
who want to leave something more consequential to their legacy.
For example, being the kind of person who takes the time to pass
on knowledge and values to the next generation. Having family,
friends, and business associates remember you as an honest person.
And helping others who will be left behind. I believe if you live
your life in this way, you’ll leave this world with a clear
conscience, and with a smile on your face.
HOW MANY times have you passed judgment on someone based
strictly on first appearances? You don’t bother striking
up a conversation with the person sitting next to you on an airplane
because they are unattractive. Or maybe you avoid people at social
gatherings who are poorly dressed. We all need to look deeper
than the surface. People come in all different shapes, sizes and
colors. And what makes them special isn’t their physical
appearance or the clothes they wear. It’s their personal
values, ideas, and the way they choose to conduct their lives.
If you don’t make an effort to reach out and find those
qualities in people, someone who could have been a great friend
or business relationship, will be gone and out of your life before
they ever got a chance to enter it.
YOU DIDN’T tell on your brother when you were a
kid. Loyalty was more important to you than scoring points with
your parents. If you got a bad grade you stood in front of your
father with your report card and you took your punishment. Instead
of asking for spending money, you chose to earn it. In college,
you stood up for what you believed in. You didn’t lie to
get the job. And you never compromised your ideals to keep it.
You’re the kind of person who might take the blame to help
out a friend, but you’d never take credit for an accomplishment
that wasn’t yours. Integrity isn’t something you get
overnight. It takes a lifetime to earn.