truly successful people are honest

“Leaders never lie to themselves, especially about themselves…. You are your own raw material.”

— Warren Bennis, On Becoming a Leader

In the modern world, the drive to become honest and authentic has unfortunately been eclipsed by the pressure to perform well, to impress, to win, and to earn wages or eke out profits by any means necessary. People for the most part have become followers of the lower path.

Even though honesty has become scarce in the current marketplace, it is still the best policy. And here’s the best part: Honesty creates wealth.

According to research in the book Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive by Robert B. Cialdini, when companies “explained failures in their annual reports, those that pointed to internal and controllable factors had higher stock prices one year later than those that pointed to external and uncontrollable factors.”

When you’re real, vulnerable and take extreme ownership for your mistakes, it not only fosters important relationships in your life, but it also gets you higher in the financial ladder.

Whether it be business or life, truly successful people are always honest. They are exceptional leaders who firmly believe in embodying vulnerability and authenticity, no matter what circumstances they’re put into.

In other words, if you’re inclined to achieving extraordinary success both in your personal and professional life, let honesty be your secret sauce.