What do you know about the Rotary Club? Oh sure, you’ve driven into some town and seen the club’s sign someplace near the “Welcome to Nowhere” sign telling you that they meet on Wednesdays at the diner. But how much do you really know about them? If you’re like me, not a whole lot. However, I came across something yesterday which shed a lot of light on them and their mission and I’d like to share it with you.
One thing the Rotary advocates is a simple, four question test when one is trying to put a decision into an ethical framework. If you’ve read much of the blog, you’ll know that I’m always trying to get to those kinds of contexts as part of the business framework and I was happy to have found this simple quiz:
For Rotary, The Four-Way Test is the cornerstone of all action. It has been for years, and it will be in the future. Of the things we think, say or do
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Easy, right? Well, the questions may be but surfacing and living with the answers may not be. Take question #1. When we talk about the Truth (capital T), we need to understand that doesn’t mean the truth the way we see it or want it to be. Obviously there are times in business when we put forward our version of the facts but let’s at least have the courage to admit that and not kid ourselves.
Question #3 may be the key to marketing today. I’d read friendships as relationships and as you know, my Cluetrain Manifesto-loving mind sees marketing in exactly that way.
What do you think? Do these questions get it done or is something missing? Can you answer them honestly and live with the results?
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