Yisel Guajardo is an entrepreneur who writes about internet marketing, social media, and blogging. She authors the blog Advanced Income. You can also follow her on Twitter.
Last month I read about a study that really disturbed me. It was based on a survey of stealing, lying, and cheating of nearly 30,000 students in high schools across the United States.
THE RESULTS
A total of 30 percent admitted to stealing from a store in the past year. And although students who attend private secular and religious schools were less likely to take something they didn’t intend to pay for, still more than one in five (21 percent) admitted to stealing something!
But hold on. The lying and cheating results only get worse.
More than two of five (42 percent) said that they sometimes lie to save money while more than 8 in 10 students (83 percent) confessed they lied to a parent about something significant. As far as cheating, a substantial majority (64 percent) cheated on a test during the past year.
What’s interesting is that more than one in four (26 percent) confessed they lied on at least one or two questions on the survey. So the figures could actually be worse since experts agree that dishonesty on surveys is usually an attempt to hide misconduct.
On a positive note, it appears American youth have a high self-image since a whopping 93 percent said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character and 77 percent said that when it comes to doing what is right, they are better than most people they know. Well, it’s either a positive self-image or delusional thinking if you ask me. So while they admit to cheating, lying, and stealing, most think there is nothing wrong with it. That’s the real disturbing part. And these are going to be our future leaders and business owners?
I’ve personally always believed that your reputation and integrity is your greatest asset and that honesty is still the best policy. These teenagers will be in for a rude awakening since one of the greatest characteristics of new or social media is its transparency. It’s no longer static where you can hide behind a website and not have to answer to the crap or the treasure that you produce online. If you try to lie about your business or product results, you’re bound to be found out. Other people will stand up to defend you or denounce you. So isn’t better to just be truthful, authentic, and honest upfront?
And secondly, what can we do to reverse the trend of acceptance of dishonesty, not just in our youth, but in ourselves and our businesses? How far will you go (or not) in the name of making more money?
I’d love to hear your comments and feedback.
Great post Yisel!
Huge questions at the end of your post.
Transparency is a big deal as is keeping short accounts IMHO.
Looking forward to more of your post
You have a new follower! thank you : )
Hi Yisel,
I saw the same article and was startled as well. I have heard before the prisoners have the highest self esteem in our country so I am guessing that self esteem might not be all that it is cracked up to be. Thanks for your post.
Buddy
I think being truthful, authentic, and honesty creates trasperancy within itself. It takes a strong man/woman to be upfront and not hide the truth. As the stats show people think it’s ok to lie steal etc. So it is up to the person within to make the change and go against the majority! No I wouldn’t lie to make more money cuz I know now that I would be selling my soul! Follow ur passion and the rest will come!
Yisel,
I’m amazed by the numbers that you have posted. And you are right, there seems to be a real conflict with what reality is and what the mindset believes. Do you think mass media or Hollywood are to blame? Or is it gangster rap? In the world online, everything accepted even lies.
Really appreciate you extending the opportunity to write in.
Sincerely,
Nadeem Ahmad
Yisel – great post.
definitely thought provoking.
reputation & integrity is everything in online business. have no clue it’s not at the top of the list for a lot of people.
too many people think that making money even with white lies is okay. too many push the envelope, fake their rss subscribers, fake screen shots.
all for what? Social Proof? more like a social doof in my opinion.
thanks so much and i can’t wait to keep reading the goods!
I have to say, I’m wasn’t shocked at any of those numbers. Sounds like me and kids I knew growing up. I bet the numbers are no worse today than they were in the 80s.
But the “role models” today for ethics are way more evil than they were in my day. Madoff, Lehman Bros, pretty much every bank CEO in our country – what kid with no life experience and under the protection of their parents for serious trouble is going to blink if they think they can get away with a pair of shoes at the mall when the grown ups are stealing BILLIONS from each other?
We always fantasize about how much better things were when we were young. The true history and the one people remember are always far different from each other.
Stats above are a slice of American life and could be much worse given the climate of “Dad gave loans to people with no jobs or assets to make an extra $10 million last year. Nothing I could do is going to match that!”
i guess lying = short term success (example banks)
telling the truth = long term success that’s built to last
thanks for stopping by jack – you’re definitely an inspiration partner
Thanks for your thoughts Yisel. I work for a church, and unfortunately have to deal with similar stuff. Since our income comes from people’s giving, I’ve been challenge myself to work like there’s a camera on you at all times. In other words, Integrity. I think establishing integrity in our lives is the key. Everything else follows.
How do we do that? Not sure, would love hear feedback.
Thanks!
very true man.
integrity is doing what’s right when no one else is looking.
great job on the new blog man. can’t wait to read the goods!
Honest is the only way to go in my book!
I’ve seen so many online lie their way to stardom and it’s just not the way to go, eventually you will be found out and you’ll lose in the long run.
Money is not worth lying for!
NOTHING IS!
I believe integrity is everything in my mind. especially when you have to live within your own skin. I don’t know how those without sleep at night.
Also, I believe what goes around comes around and would rather put out things I can be proud of rather than worry what will come back to me.
~Jim Zak~
I wonder if it’s really that much worse than when I grew up though. Polling back then wasn’t so easy. I bet the numbers would shock a lot of people though.
I know these numbers are shocking but honestly, they do not surprise me one bit. Espeically when you hear the news about increases in teenage pregnancy, the average age that youth are having their first intercourse, how many are doing drugs and the drugs they are doing. Now that shocks me and scares me.
Like Alejandro says, these youth are our future leaders. Let’s hope they come to their senses and grow out of it.
My Dad used to be a teacher back in the 50′s/60′s and back then he saw an increase in rebelliousness from the students and with his disciplinarian personality he knew he had to get out of teach and so he did. And things have only gotten worse through the 70′s, 80′s, 90′s and now 2000′s, wow, I’m feeling old LOL
We need a nationwide/worldwide revival to get our nation/world back on track.
~Jim Zak~
I think we are in short supply of role models. Senators, Governors, banks, the whole sub-prime mess comes down to greed. The most disturbing thing I see amoung young ones, having worked in the school system, is an alarming change in attitude over the last few decades. Of course, Im speaking generally, but even in the best schools, kids will walk away and treat you with incredible disrespect, and that comes down to families. Honesty is an attribute to be proud of!
Considering money is simply energy we receive through providing something of greater value than what we receive, I only have to look inward to my heart.
Alejandro mentioned people faking RSS subscribers, fake screen shots, etc. What’s the point folks?
How can you sleep at night when you’re deliberately robbing and stealing from people their very freedom by being dishonest?
Acting like that is the very reason our country is in shambles right now. Instead of crossing the bridge into their heart, they jumped ship when an illusional shortcut appeared.
By the way, I’m not perfect. Who is? We’re human.
I do know that every time I make a decision my foundation of honor courage and commitment to a higher power guide me from my heart. The same question comes up every time, “how can I add value to enrich this interaction and this person’s life”?
The world forgot how to live from love.
Love you all, please wake up and value your life, mine, and the population here on planet earth.
I dont really think the youth have many role models to look up too. Certainly not politicians or big business! They are what greed is all about. A teenager, who tells a lie, is certainly not unique. But working in the school system for a short while, now there’s an eyeopener! Even in our best schools many kids have such a lack of respect, they will walk right away as your talking. But even more disturbing, is that it is coming from home. Thats how they are being raised, and it SEEMS normal!
Who doesn’t want to make more money and live a better life. But the fact is that many people are not willing to pay the price of success to have the thing they always wanted. Its sad but many die with their music still inside of them.