Of course, we all strive to be good people. Of course, we know right from wrong… right?
But ethics in business isn’t about textbook definitions or saying the right thing in a pitch deck. It’s about the choices we make every day—especially when nobody is looking. And let me tell you, in practice, it’s one of the hardest things to do consistently.
A Personal Lesson in Business Ethics
Let me share a recent experience that drove this point home. I hired a contractor I had worked with before to remodel my kitchen. He confidently assured me that the job would be completed in three days. I knew that was a tight timeline, but I trusted him. After all, we’d worked together previously, and I believed in honoring business relationships.
But three days came and went. Then a week. Then two. By the third week, my kitchen was still unfinished. There was no countertop. There was only cabinetry installed. It became crystal clear: he never had the capacity to deliver in three days. He knew it, and he told me otherwise to secure the job.
This wasn’t just a project delay. This was an ethical violation. A lie to secure income. And while I could have let it slide, as so many do—especially with people we’ve built history or rapport with—this time, I didn’t.
I said: Enough.
I disputed the charge with my credit card provider. Not because I was trying to be difficult or get out of paying, but because there’s a huge difference between a three-day promise and a three-week reality, especially when there was never any intention to meet that original deadline.
I soon learned a countertop alone takes a week minimum. There was no way he could’ve delivered what he promised. He knew that. But he assumed I wouldn’t call it out.
The Lie Beneath the Surface
Here’s the hard truth: these kinds of ethical shortcuts are everywhere in business. We’ve normalized them to the point that some people see it as “just how things are done.”
Overpromising to land a sale.
Cutting corners on materials.
Skipping permits or inspections.
Avoiding tough conversations with clients.
Telling a white lie to secure cash flow this month.
And many of us—even those with good hearts—have let these things slide. Why? Because we like the person. Because we understand their struggle. Because we’ve been that desperate contractor. Because they’re family. Because we need the business.
But every time we let an ethical lapse go unchecked, we reinforce a culture where integrity is optional. And that’s where the real damage begins—not just to the customer, but to our businesses, our communities, and ourselves.
Ethics Is Not a Luxury—It’s Infrastructure
Ethics is not something you layer onto your business once everything else is working. It is the foundation. It’s infrastructure.
When people trust you, they will build with you. When they don’t, no amount of branding, pricing, or speed can repair the damage.
That’s why I’ve begun to really look inward and ask myself questions like:
- Where in my own business have I cut corners or let things slide?
- Where have I avoided hard conversations in the name of being “nice”?
- Where have I allowed relationships—professional or personal—to compromise my standards?
It’s not easy to confront these things. But it’s necessary if we want to grow something real.
Red Flags: What to Look Out For
As entrepreneurs, we are constantly building with others—contractors, clients, investors, service providers. And one of the greatest skills we can develop is ethical pattern recognition. Being able to see the red flags before they cost us time, money, or our peace.
Here are a few I’ve learned to watch for:
1. Are they desperate for money?
Desperation changes behavior. Someone who is financially strained may make promises they can’t keep just to close a deal. That doesn’t make them a bad person—but it does make them a risky business partner if they aren’t honest about their capacity.
2. Are they moving too fast?
Speed isn’t always bad—but when someone is trying to push a decision quickly, skip key steps, or gloss over important questions, pay attention. What are they avoiding? What are they hiding?
3. Do they dodge questions about quality or accountability?
When you bring up warranties, quality checks, or timelines, do they answer directly or shift the conversation? Clear, honest communication is a green flag. Evasion is a red one.
4. Do they overuse charm or guilt?
Be wary of the “trust me” script, especially when paired with emotional appeals like “I’m just trying to feed my family” or “Don’t you believe in me?” Empathy is good. But manipulation dressed as vulnerability is not.
These are just a few examples. But the point is: ethics isn’t just about having high standards for yourself—it’s about having high standards for who you build with.
Systems vs. Symptoms: Why We Need New Structures
This is bigger than one kitchen contractor or one bad business deal. What we’re talking about here is systemic. The truth is, many of the systems we operate within are designed to exploit people.
They rely on information asymmetry—where one party knows way more than the other.
They reward short-term wins over long-term relationships.
They treat ethical behavior as optional—or even naïve.
In mortgage lending, in particular, these dynamics show up constantly. Predatory lending. Hidden fees. Confusing terms. People being told they’re “ready” when they’re not—or worse, being kept in the dark about what “readiness” even means.
That’s why I created the Mortgage Readiness App—to flip that script.
The Mortgage Readiness App: A System Built on Ethics
The Mortgage Readiness App is designed to empower people before they enter the housing system. It doesn’t just prepare you to buy a home—it prepares you to protect yourself.
We built it with ethics at the core.
- Transparency: You see where you stand financially, in plain language. No tricks.
- Education: You learn what readiness actually looks like—not just from a lender’s perspective, but from a long-term stability perspective.
- Protection: You get access to tools and insights that keep you from being taken advantage of by unethical lenders or agents.
- Community: You’re not navigating this alone. We connect you with trusted professionals who have been vetted for both skill and integrity.
The goal isn’t just to level the playing field—it’s to rebuild the field entirely. Because if we keep plugging into broken systems, even the best intentions can be exploited.
Business with Integrity is the Future
As we move deeper into the age of AI, automation, and algorithmic decision-making, the ethical stakes are only going to get higher.
AI can write copy, generate leads, approve loans, manage hiring. But machines don’t have morals. We do. And if we don’t lead with ethics—if we don’t bake it into our businesses, apps, systems, and daily decisions—we will only scale the same exploitation we’ve been fighting to fix.
Here’s what I believe:
- Ethics is a competitive advantage. Trust is currency. People are looking for businesses they can believe in, not just buy from.
- Ethics is a filter. It helps you choose the right clients, partners, and opportunities.
- Ethics is the foundation. It’s not the “soft stuff.” It’s the infrastructure of a business that lasts.
Final Thoughts: Where Do You Stand?
This isn’t just a callout of others—it’s a call-in for all of us.
Every one of us has faced ethical gray areas. We’ve all rationalized things that weren’t entirely right. We’ve all been tempted to take the shortcut. And sometimes we’ve taken it.
But growth isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being honest. It’s about course-correcting. It’s about refusing to normalize the lie—even when it’s wrapped in a smile or a handshake.
So I’ll leave you with some reflection questions:
- What ethical standard have you let slide in your business?
- Where have you allowed a red flag to stay just because it was convenient?
- What would change if you truly prioritized ethics over everything else?
We don’t need more businesspeople who know how to scale. We need more who know how to stand—on principle, on truth, on integrity.
Because at the end of the day, our greatest work isn’t just in what we build. It’s in how we build it.
Ready to lead with ethics?
Explore how the Mortgage Readiness App can help you or your clients prepare for homeownership in a system that doesn’t always play fair. Let’s build something better, more transparent and robust.
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Carol. Gre