"Being loyal and honest really gets you nowhere these days," ponders Tom, reflecting on recent events. It was going to be a hectic week for Tom and his work partner and best friend Jim since their boss requested a new plan for a presentation that would "make or break" their careers. With only two days until the deadline Tom pulled an "all-niter" at his office. Jim should have helped, but he had a dinner date with his wife that he said he could not break. By three in the morning Tom felt extreme confidence in his creative new plan for the presentation and called it a night. With only three hours of sleep Tom went into work the next morning exhausted, yet excited to tell Jim his plan for their presentation. After hearing the idea Jim replied with only a simple, "Sounds good," then went into his office. Later on that afternoon in a meeting Tom and Jim's Boss stood up and applauded Jim on his new plan for the presentation (really Tom's idea) and told Tom that he could learn a thing or two from his friend Jim. Although success ethics have been instilled in Americans for centuries, lately these ethics of how to earn a dollar seem to cross the line of what it means to be decent and moral.
There are many examples of why we Americans praise success the way we do. For example, when our nation became independent we (the people) decided that America would stand for optimism, success, and over-all freedom. These theories are the ones that have always stuck with us since elementary school. So is it understandable that we compromise our self-worth and values for success? Maybe, because it is at the heart of our nation, or maybe it is not understandable because compromising our values for a dollar would not make us that far off from any bounty hunter or hooker. If only we could shine the spotlight on the opportunity cost of our decisions when it comes down to the true price of success. .