I worked in California for a company based on the east coast. My job was to get farmers to sell us product for our processing plant. I had a contract to offer that was less attractive than that offered by our competitors. Despite a good reputation and a history of performance in the field, after three months of poor results, I let the owner know where our contract wasn’t competitive, and that’s why I had a low volume of signed contracts.
He told me to “just put down whatever price they want on the contract; the negotiations begin when the contract is signed.” I was stunned. He had no intention of fulfilling the contract terms, and I didn’t want to sign my name to a contract like that.
So, I wrote a memo asking him to clarify his position, and I outlined my understanding of what he had said. I told my wife that I’d likely get fired if I followed through. She read it and said “You have to turn it in, because you can’t compromise your integrity.” (I have a wonderful wife).
I gave it to him the next day, and sure enough, he read it and immediately responded “You’re done!”
Alan
I Didn’t Compromise My Integrity
