Do the Right Thing

Do the right thing, not the wrong thing.
Do the right thing, not your own thing.
Unless your own thing is the right thing—
then everything will be fine!

I came up with this little rhyme nearly 25 years ago for my daughter when she was in preschool. She was strong-willed, smart, courageous, and charming, doing her own thing was practically her superpower. So, I needed a way to teach her about choices without sounding like a lecture. A rhyme felt right because, at the time, she listened when Barney sang, “Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share…”

As I reflect on it now, Do the right thing is more than a nursery rhyme,it’s a simple anthem that rings true in every phase of life. My grandmother, “Gram,” had a favorite saying: “You do the right thing.” No matter what anyone else is doing or has done, take the high road. Never compromise your integrity for anybody or anything.

As a leader, doing the right thing can feel hard when challenges arise. But what you do when nobody is watching, that’s what reveals your character. I want to be able to look in the mirror and be proud of the person staring back at me.

Make doing the right thing a habit, and everything will be fine.

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