How does one come to show such contempt for their name, family and future? The truth is, while it is senseless to cheat and steal in order to get ahead in life, it makes sense that people are prone to make bad choices.

You become what you pursue. The journey usually begins innocently enough and with the best intentions. Launched with a dream to succeed and the commitment to make something of yourself, then with a few wins and the sweet taste of success, desire for more is stoked by ambition and perhaps a little fear of being a one hit wonder. The need to prove to yourself and others that you can sustain the success and match, if not exceed, last years achievement begins to turn on you, possess you, and shape you into something you never really thought you could become.

The irony is, you may not be able to pinpoint when you actually made that decision to throw yourself with abandon to the ferocious cravings of win at any and all cost. However, you've lost your bearings and are slipping into the abyss of deception. You breathe, but not deeply. You sleep, but not peacefully. You wake, in cold sweat. You talk, but do not communicate. You eat, but do not savor. You drink, to drown the worries. You've begun to change and are becoming that which you pursued. Your friends and family recognize you're different, more distant, angry and self-centered. They drop you hints, but you laugh it off and deny, unaware of the subtle transformation taking place within.

How does one keep from losing touch with what's most important in life. It is quite simple really. In the Scriptures, King David summed it up in two key actions. First, do the right thing for those you lead. Second, possess a strong sense of accountability to a higher authority.

Pursue what is right

Do the right thing for those you lead. This pursuit leads to the kind of prosperity you can enjoy for a life time. Inevitably, someone will ask, who decides what the "right thing" is? Such a question puts you at risk of missing the truth of the principle. The right or wrong thing is only part of the matter. The core issue is the view the leader takes when making decisions. Is the leader starting from the right point of view?

The right point of view for leaders is an "others" point of view. Trouble and downfall isn't far behind the leader who slips into making decisions based on his or her own self-interest. The destructive creep of an entitlement attitude takes root and if not dealt with will grow into a blinding madness that convinces the leader that what they want is the right thing. They begin to believe and act as if the organization and its people exists to serve them, to carry out their every wish and command. Such people disqualify themselves for leadership and put those around them at risk.

Recently, a Managing Partner shared with me how his boss instructed to him to falsify a financial report in order to put a more positive spin on his divisions performance. The Managing Partner decided to submit his report truthfully and not comply with his bosses expectation. A few weeks later he was demoted from his position for doing the honest thing. He describes his decision saying, "at least I'm at peace and do not live in fear of being accused of having committed an unethical act. And, I no longer have to report to that man." Events like this happen when leaders lose sight of how their requests might impact their people.

Humble yourself

Make yourself accountable to a higher authority. Humility is not often celebrated as a desirable leadership trait, but it is essential if you hope to attract followers. In his book, Good to Great, Jim Collins points out that the leaders of those companies that had become great all possessed a certain humility.

Humilty is defined as possessing a modest view of ones importance. Humility keeps the ego in check and serves to keep you from self-destructing. This is not to be confused with low self-esteem or self-abasement. This is an attitude shaped by the understanding that no matter how many people report to you and no matter how much power and control you have obtained, you do well to willingly account for your actions to those below you and above you. You resist accountability to your own peril.

Those leaders with a strong spiritual foundation do this best. It is difficult to think too highly of yourself when you consider the magnitude of the universe and believe there is an all seeing eye watching over human affairs. Those who possess belief in God, or the Infinite Intelligence, as Napolean Hill described, have the benefit of context. They know that no matter how important or powerful they become, a trust has been bestowed on them and they remain finite and dependent on powers greater than themselves for both survival and success.

Pursue that which is good and right for those you lead and life will treat you well.