Honesty a beacon and not just a halo.
Honesty is a beacon, a way of life and not a halo or just a virtue. Honesty and integrity are the very two pillars on which everything is balancing. Honesty and Integrity is important and shouldn't ever be muddied. Surprisingly most of the times a lie is exposed, and the word always travels. .
Let's take a look at this as the most important part of any business. What's the road to success for a startup? For many companies, it's whatever road leads them in the least amount of time. And they do not mind if it's the one where there is no place for truth and honesty. If building a business is about building relationships, a cornerstone of good business relationships is trust. Lies destroy trust. Only an honest person feels relaxed because he does not have to remember false stories. If one lies once, the liar must lie again and again to cover the first lie. The same holds true for business.
It is very important that you be honest and nothing short of honest with your customers. You should never promise the customer the earth in order to please them. It's hard to imagine your company not living up to its promises. It's difficult to accept criticism from your customers. And it's demeaning to make excuses when there should be none. . If there is something wrong, you must face it, and find a solution for the customers. If you lie or make promises you cannot keep, you might get by for a very, very short time but the customers will eventually discover what is right. One lie might get you a handful of customers but one dissatisfied will take away a bucketful.
It's better to admit an error than to try to cover up the problem. All customers appreciate honesty. This is the key to success be it in business or in a relationship or for that matter in life. Always tell the truth, even if it hurts. Honesty can overcome wrongdoings and open respect for admittance of fault. It is an essential trait.