How to Stay Out of Jail

I am amazed at the number of rich, famous and successful people who seemingly forget that the rules the rest of us live by also apply to them. I have a theory that, once a person gets to a certain level of success and wealth, the air becomes very thin up there and her ability to think clearly is impaired. Although success and money may impair one's abilities to think clearly, there are steps that can be taken to avoid making the types of mistakes that create unpleasant results.

I am amazed once again at yet another CEO scandal. I was reading an article about the soon-to-be-former CEO of HP, Patricia Dunn. Dunn will step down from her position at the beginning of 2007, "amid a widening scandal involving a possibly illegal probe into media leaks" (Associated Press, Sep. 12, 2006). It appears that Dunn thought it was okay to obtain private telephone conversations using personal information about members of the board of directors and others. The story is still unfolding; however one thing seems clear, the air must have been too thin for Dunn to think clearly.

It seems something happens to people when they become rich and successful. I don't think being rich and successful means you have to break the law or commit other immoral acts. I believe there are ways to avoid these situations, which actually are not limited to the rich and successful. The first line of defense is to remain true to your values. Most people's values don't include lying, stealing and wiretapping. If you keep in mind what is most important to you, the chances that you will be tempted to do something illegal or immoral are slim. If you stay true to your values, the chance of getting into sticky situations is more unlikely. I am not saying this is easy however I believe that staying true to your values will make your life much less complicated.