Integrity All The Time Carey Casey

“Great results attained by dishonesty or taking shortcuts really aren’t great results.”

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the NABC.

Integrity All the Time by Carey Casey, CEO & President of Championship Fathering

My father used to say, “Son, if you’re going to lead the orchestra, you have to turn your back to the crowd.” He also said, “Your honesty and integrity will carry you more than any touchdown you score or any 100-yard dash that you win.” And I can honestly say, if there’s one great characteristic that I saw in my dad and other fathers that I admired and learned from, it was integrity. And I’ve learned that his words are true: integrity will carry us through difficulties and uncertainties no matter what our race, education or economic background might be. Recently I had the privilege of talking with Dayton Moore, General Manager of the Kansas City Royals. He’s a dear friend and a great man of humility and integrity. Our conversation happened right after news came out about the sign-stealing scandal in Major League Baseball involving the Houston Astros, with ripple effects around the league. We were both understandably disturbed by what had happened. There are numerous other examples of champion-level sports performers who were later discovered to be lacking integrity—from Rosie Ruiz to Lance Armstrong, and yes, quite a few college basketball coaches. I can understand it to a degree. They are in competitive environments where there’s great pressure to win, and they give in to the temptation and push the boundaries. For coaches, it shows up in recruiting, academics, money improprieties, and so on. Coach, I’m sure you already know that your integrity matters to everyone around you, especially your players and your family. And one great test of a person’s integrity is what happens when no one is looking. One of my heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., echoed that sentiment when he said, “Midnight is the hour when men desperately seek to obey the eleventh commandment: ‘Thou shalt not get caught.’” When a man’s cheating habits or dirty secrets are exposed, I often wonder about his legacy and what he is surely losing with his children (and for coaches, his players) in terms of character and integrity. That’s where his reputation matters most. Either now or someday in the future, what will that man’s children and grandchildren think about him? How will his actions affect them and their future? Although results are important, how we achieved those results and how we handled ourselves along the way are even more important. Great results attained by dishonesty or taking shortcuts really aren’t great results. This speaks directly to modeling—setting an example for our children and others to follow. And it starts with each one of us realizing that we’re always setting an example. We have to be intentional about making sure it’s a good example. As men, we have to guard our character and integrity. We can do honorable things with our lives, help thousands of people and be great men 99 percent of the time, but it only takes one bad mistake to bring it all crashing down. We can’t be too careful. One poor decision or indiscretion could cost each of us dearly. We should eliminate or avoid anything we wouldn’t want to show up someday in our children’s lives. Here’s one approach: try to avoid any situation that would be hard to explain if one of your children showed up. You can’t always control their choices, but you can do a lot about yours. Pay attention to what your kids are picking up from you and make corrections where you can. Commit yourself to integrity all the time— even when you’re not around your family or your players. Doing what’s right in your work, having high character, and treating people with dignity all make you a better man, which makes you a better father and coach. It’s all connected! How you carry yourself in your other areas of life will spill over to how you treat the people you’re really trying to invest in. Even when life seems to be against you, do the right thing. In the long run, people will notice and appreciate you for maintaining a high reputation and a virtuous life. Our integrity is like a tree we plant and nurture through the years. It takes time, but if we do it right, the tree will grow deep roots and bear much fruit. Carey Casey is CEO, President, and the author of Championship Fathering. He has also authored the book Championship Grandfathering: How to Build a Winning Legacy and is the general editor of the book 21-Day Dad’s Challenge: Three Weeks to a Better Relationship with Your Kids. Carey and his wife Melanie live in Chicago. They are the parents of four children and have nine grandchildren. www.ChampionshipFathering.org