YOUR WORD IS YOUR BOND
Young men, my dad taught me something at an early age that has stayed with me my entire life. Your word is your bond, and a handshake means something.
Now, some of you may not understand just how much weight those words used to carry. There was a time when two men could shake hands on an agreement, look each other in the eye, and that was enough. No paperwork, no contract, just two men giving their word and understanding that they were expected to honor it.
My dad was teaching me something much bigger than how to make a promise. He was teaching me about character. Because your word is a reflection of who you are, especially when keeping it becomes inconvenient.
And here’s where we put that lesson to work today. Let’s say you promise somebody you’ll help them move Saturday morning. Well, Friday night comes around and your buddies invite you to do something you’d rather do. Now you’ve got a decision to make.
You don’t just disappear, make up an excuse, or wait until Saturday morning to cancel. You remember that somebody made plans counting on you. So you show up Saturday morning like you said you would. That’s how we build a reputation people can trust.
And before you make a promise, take a moment to think about whether you can actually keep it. Don’t agree to something just to make somebody happy in the moment. Learn to say no when you need to, but when you say yes, mean it.
A handshake may only last a few seconds, but the trust behind it can last a lifetime. My dad understood that, and it’s a lesson worth passing on to another generation.
Today’s challenge: Think about one commitment you’ve made that you haven’t followed through on. Take one step today to make good on your word. And if you follow through with this challenge, send me a message. I’d really like to hear how it turns out for you.
Altar’d Life Coaching
No more nails. What held me does not hold me.