6 minute read
What Does Integrity Mean To Me?
BY: Angel Tuccy
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I have noticed that integrity usually comes up in a conversation only when it's being questioned, and it's getting harder to believe that people always say what they mean and always mean what they say. This gets more complicated as the stakes get bigger because having integrity also gets harder to maintain. Most of us wake up in the morning, hoping to be better than we were the day before, but then life always throws us a curveball.
Let me tell you my story.
At the beginning of my career in broadcasting, I was given the opportunity to host a radio show that was broadcast during the afternoon "drive time." It was an incredible opportunity for me as a brand-new radio show host who needed to build up an audience, and this exciting offer became a test of my values and integrity.
I was an unknown host in the marketplace, and a lot of sponsorship dollars were riding on this decision. The temptation to accept the offer was strong. It meant I'd instantly have access to a large audience and would attract more sponsors to the show, securing my time on the air. However, it also meant that I would be in the studio when my children got home from school, and I would miss out on family dinners every night of the week.
At the time, all three of my children were still in elementary school, and my twin daughters were about to enter middle school. I knew these were impressionable years for them, and the strength of our family depended on our family time together. I wanted to be there for them when they got home from school, but I was being asked to put my career before my family, just like many other women in the workplace.
Despite my reservations, I found myself considering the offer because it was the big break that I had longed for in my career. Yet, my maternal instincts were fighting for my family. I realized that accepting the offer would compromise my integrity as a mom and could damage my relationship with my children in the long run, knowing that if I accepted this offer, I would send the wrong message to my family and even to my new audience, which could be seen as an endorsement I didn't want to support.
And so, I made the difficult decision to turn down the offer. Instead of hosting a show in the afternoon drive time, I accepted the mid-morning slot so that I could drop off my children at school, head to the studio, and be back home by the time they finished their school day. It wasn't an easy decision, but it was right for my family. Because I wanted to maintain my integrity and stand firm in my beliefs, I turned down their "drive time" offer and chose to be home with my family.
As it turned out, the heads of the studio came up with a compromise that served us all and offered me an opportunity that I wasn't expecting. I had made the tough decision to walk away from the opportunity, and by turning them down, they were given the opportunity to act with integrity, too.
They gave me the mid-morning spot and re-played it every afternoon for the next 15 months to give me the audience and sponsor support we needed to stay on the air. That bold move turned into a successful 10-year career in broadcasting for all of us. Eventually, I moved into the afternoon drive time post hosting a Christian lifestyle show, talking to moms in the carpool lane. It was a beautiful turn of events where I could be there for other moms once my children were grown.
Dr. Wendy Labat, known as The Financial Healer, had a similar experience. When she expanded her business to include insurance and financial services, she purchased the same products she sold to her clients. "To be honest, I didn't buy them from a personal financial planning perspective; I wanted to truthfully say I believed in the products enough to sell them and that I used them myself."
A couple of years later, Wendy was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, and her medical bills totaled almost $1.5 million - which her health insurance paid off. Additionally, the other supplemental coverage she purchased provided her with multiple six-figure, tax-free financial boosts that allowed Wendy to focus on her recovery without worrying about money. "Thank God I practiced what I preached,” said Wendy.
For both of us, standing in integrity initially felt like a tough pill to swallow. Yet, in the end, the valuable lessons we learned taught us the importance of staying true to our values and principles, even when faced with difficult choices.
Integrity is not just a buzzword or a nice-to-have quality but a fundamental principle that underlies all aspects of our lives. As an author and a public speaker, I appreciate the power of integrity in both my personal and professional life.
It’s important for people to trust us, and so it means every day that we say what we mean, and we mean what we say. It is a fundamental principle that governs how we live, work, and interact with others. Integrity has always helped me succeed in life. It’s a value I look for in others I surround myself with.
About the Author:
Angel Tuccy is an Award-Winning Speaker, Radio Host, TV Producer, PR Media Specialist, and 15-time best-selling author. Her top-selling book "Get Discovered" is a how-to example for creating media exposure in less than 90 days. She shares some of the best ideas she learned from hosting over 2,500 broadcasts and interviewing over 5,000 guests. Her unique approach to media is why her clients call her the Media Matchmaker.
During her 12 years in broadcasting, Angel was awarded "Most Influential Woman of The Year," "Best Morning Talk Show," and "Best Talk Show Team." She's been featured in multiple magazines, shared stages with top influencers, and hosted three daily talk shows. She and her husband live in Orlando, FL, within an hour of all three of their kids.
