Don’t Lie Your Memory Is Not That Good

Hey, team! Today is President’s Day, so I thought I would share a quote from one of our former presidents. Abraham Lincoln happens to be one of my favorites. I have a few throughout history, but I think everyone can agree that Lincoln presided over one of the craziest times in our nation’s history.

Some of us look back and think, “Nothing could be crazier than what we’re dealing with today.” But when I consider what Lincoln had to face, those were pretty crazy times.

He made a statement that I think fits well with a Monday message and aligns with our core values. He said: “No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.”

That ties directly into our values of transparency, humility, and resolve. If you are a liar, it’s hard to be valuable because you’re only looking out for yourself. You’re not humble because you’re focused on what you can get out of a situation, or you’re trying to cover up a mistake. Without transparency, you cannot truly embody these core values.

The fact is, none of us have a good enough memory to keep track of all the things we say or do to maintain a lie successfully over the long haul. Eventually, it unravels. We’ve seen this happen with famous men and women throughout history—people who claimed to have been in combat zones taking fire, only for the truth to come out years later. When the records are checked, it turns out they were sunbathing in Barbados, drinking a latte.

No matter how long someone gets away with a lie, it doesn’t make them successful. And it certainly doesn’t make them a person of integrity. This is something we should take to heart. We can’t keep a lie going forever. Sometimes, it takes years or even decades, but the truth comes out.

So, let’s be honest. Raise your hand if you’ve ever told a lie. Good—everyone in the room is being honest with themselves. Now, set things straight. Turn it around. Make it right. If it costs you your job, at least you still have your integrity. That’s something you can keep and own for the rest of your life, no matter what happens.

Have integrity. Be truthful. Stay transparent. Own up to your mistakes—even when it costs you.

Have a wonderful President’s Day. God bless you. Have a great week! Talk to you later. Oh, and one last thing—look up at the top corner. It says: Be valuable. Nothing less will do.

Keep that in check. Talk to you later!