BUS 110 Week 3

 This week we studied ethics. Integrity was a major focus of the study material this week. Go figure that while studying integrity I find myself faced with an opportunity to see if I can pass an ethics test in a real life situation. We found out that our roof is leaking so I called for an inspection. We found that there was indeed a leak, but we also found out that another area was significantly damaged by a tree due to ice storms. The quote to complete the work is substantial but fell close to what I understood our deductible would be on an insurance claim so might not be worth doing a claim for. Knowing that by splitting the cost we could cover the repair without a claim, and I told the roofing company that I accepted the service contract. Only to find out later that if the damage is actually due to ice storms then the insurance deductible is significantly less and the insurance agent wants us to use his preferred roofer. Here is where I try to keep my integrity intact. If I can keep my word to the roofer I already contracted and have them do the work, I want to. If I can't due to the insurance company and their protocols, then my hands will be tied and I believe I won't have broken any ethics codes or my own personal principles.

To me integrity is very important. If someone says they will do something I trust that they will. The same way that if I say I will do something, you can be sure that I will do everything in power to live up to my word. I took a class once and I think it was a life skills type thing. At one point we were discussing attributes we thought were important for a person to possess. Of course most of the class is saying things like honesty, reliability, self-confidence and such. But it wasn't until I mentioned integrity that the teacher became invested in the conversation. It ended up being one of the best days I spent in that class.

I learned early on in my life that integrity is very important to me and I value it highly, which is why I try to keep my integrity intact. During one Elder's Quorum discussion, a brother mentioned that integrity was doing what was right even when no one is watching. I kind of equate it to the shopping cart scenario. No one forces you to return the shopping cart to the right place, you won't get in trouble or even yelled at if you don't. But doing it because it is the right thing to do shows perfect integrity.