Do “Good Guys” Really Finish Last?

Do “Good Guys” Really Finish Last?

Posted on 25. Jan, 2010 by Andrew Dumont in Startup Life

With the recent happenings settling in, I began to think about the timeless saying, “good guys finish last.” You hear it all the time, from family members to friends. But, is it really true that those who approach business with a lack of integrity, honesty and sincerity end up on top?

Sadly enough, yes. If you look around at those who conduct business unethically, they usually end up making their way to the top… but only for a short time. With conducting business in this manner arises the issue of sustainability and the inability to maintain the ride on the “high-horse” that is success. Having that in mind, I believe there are three major problems that result when integrity loses place in the mix and ego takes over…

1) Burnt Bridges - Business is built on relationships – relationships with clients, co-workers, business partners, etc. And as with any relationship, they take time. Time to learn, time to understand and most importantly, time to trust. The moment that these relationships begin to take a back seat, the dominos begin falling and the bridges that connect all the relationships that’ve been built, begin burning. It’s a small world. A burnt relationship can go a very long way in the wrong direction.

2) Lack of Trust – People don’t conduct business with those they don’t trust. They can’t, there’s just too many variables that come into play that prevent the business relationship from forming. From contract negotiations, to terms, to desired outcome. Everything is built on trust. I truly believe that a man (or woman) is only as good as their word. How much validity does your word hold?

3) Word of Mouth – As I said in the first point, it’s a very small world. People talk – and for those that believe in doing good, it’s the best thing possible. But, for those that don’t, it’s kryptonite. Word of mouth is extremely powerful, it’s what many base the bulk of their everyday decisions on. In the business world, it’s the driving force behind new business and partnerships, but it’s also the driving force behind the inability to do both of those things. Conducting business unethically produces the latter.

Conclusion - Call me old fashioned, but I believe in the business of doing good. I believe that those who finish first are the ones who place integrity at the base of everything they do. Look at the way you conduct business or simply live your life, for that matter – are you positioning yourself to finish first in the long-run?

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10 Responses to “Do “Good Guys” Really Finish Last?”

  1. Joanna Casey

    25. Jan, 2010

    Nice one sir!! This can be true not only in business but in life as a whole, too many times we step on one another to reach the top, without every really understanding that the universe doesn’t like that. Like my grandma says “God don’t like ugly”
    :)

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  2. Andy Karuza

    25. Jan, 2010

    Agreed- Good Guys can get hustled due to “positioning problems” but ALWAYS have things kind of go their way. If you conduct business properly, the new opportunities seem to FLOOD right on in. The “bad guys” win when they have a superior position to you i.e. control the money, the title, contracts, company resources, and other concrete/abstract resources. The key for the good guys to win is via “strong positioning” aka never let your gaurd down and always make sure you have a better position than the bad guy i.e. they can’t sue you, can’t fire you, can’t take the money and run. This is part of the chess game of life I’ve learned first hand many times…I’m young and building my reputation and network so i’m somewhat vulnerable as I have to be open in order to grow. I’ve networked myself out so far now that I don’r rely on any one person and therefore there is no one bad experience with somebody that could destroy me. People are vicious and your relationships with people can be very surfacy and loosely connected. Make sure your network and relationships are diversified enough so that if one piece of the structure is taken away, the house still stands…and you call in a new contractor to fix it :) Diversity opens the mind and creates unlimited possibilities.

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  3. Briddick

    25. Jan, 2010

    IN the end, good will always win!

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  4. Andrew Dumont

    26. Jan, 2010

    Thanks for the comments everyone – and Joanna, I wish my Grandma said that!

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  5. Paul Alford

    31. Jan, 2010

    Hi Andrew. I met you a few years ago in Bellingham (with Jane Hix) and I observe Tatango and its people from time to time. It’s always an interesting perspective when I review the “content”. Let’s try to touch base next week? And YES…I know “real companies” are built upon strong core values. Nice guys will always win….but sometimes you get tested. A wise man taught me once “Act never react”. Don’t let those other people dictate how you think. Good Luck with everything and I look forward to talking with you soon.

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  6. Brandon Carroll

    06. Feb, 2010

    Andrew -

    You are going places. One of my favorite quotes, a bumper sticker on my car actually, reads, “The true testament of a man’s character is how he (she) treats someone who can do him (her) absolutely no good.”

    Genuineness will take you far. It will actually differentiate you. Use your past as motivation. Again, you are going places.

    Great post.

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  7. JamesDX

    11. Feb, 2010

    Maybe this is me talking nonsense, but it seems like Google isn’t a company run strictly by the top and they seem to be doing quite well.

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  8. Nice Guys Really Finish First - Really?

    22. Feb, 2010

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