Pickles and Truth

Pickles and Telling the Truth

When I was six years old, our family took a trip to visit cousins in the Bronx, NY. While we were all in a grocery store together, Linda and Shari, my older cousins, brought me over to the self serve pickle barrel in the deli section and convinced me to join them in stealing a pickle and eating the evidence. “Do it quickly,” they told me. 

It was the first time I’d ever stolen anything and I felt horrible. When we got back to the car where all our parents were waiting, my father took one look at my face and asked what was wrong. I gave him the details and he calmly got out of the car and walked me back into the store where he explained the situation to the lady at the register. “We’d like to pay for the pickle,” he said, even after she had graciously waved us away. 

That experience shaped me forever. I’ll always remember that uncomfortable feeling of stealing and I’ll always remember how much better I felt after righting the wrong. (5¢ for the pickle)

Telling your truth is a powerful way to connect with others. When your customers feel they can trust you, they’ll value your services, return for repeat business and will refer others your way. When you use your stories to connect the past and present to the future, you build bridges towards loyal, longstanding relationships, both internally and externally. By clearly communicating your company mission and vision through stories about your business activities, growth, leadership, philanthropy, or special events, you help people connect and connecting goes a long way for those who share your values.

Everyone has a story. Most of us need help telling it. 

I’m ready when you are.

““The greatest gift you ever give is your honest self.” — Mr. Rogers”