Am I A Man of My Word?
I sold my Jeep today. I am glad to get rid of it. We had 4 vehicles for a short time, and I really needed to get rid of one. The process of selling the Jeep was less than what I had hoped for. I assumed that the person who I sold it to was trustworthy, but I found out quickly that he was not a man of his word. It caused me to be introspective and reflect on how I come off to others if I don’t keep my word.
I had a buyer for the Jeep who was going to look at it one more time, and decide if he wanted to buy it. In the mean time a guy who works with my dad looked at it this morning. He called me and asked about buying it. He told me he’d looked at it this morning. After learning of the situation, he told me in no uncertain terms that he would buy it at $2,500 dollars if the other guy backed out and to contact him.
The other guy looked at it and decided to wait. I called the acquaintance of my dad’s, and he went right over to look at it. I was totally honest about the other guy not wanting to buy it right now. I decided then that I’d only accept $500 less than he’d committed to because that’s what I would have actually made on the other deal (a little finder’s fee I had worked out). This guy calls me and says that it really isn’t what he’d thought and wondered if I’d take less. He asked if I’d sell it to him for $2,000. I said, “yes.”
The thing is that the guy would have gotten the Jeep for $2,000 no matter what. It would have been one thing for me to tell him that I’d only take $2,000, but he chose to not be a man of his word. When he showed up the first thing I thought as I looked at him is that he’s a liar. I now have zero respect for him, and I would not believe anything he says.
I thought about this, and I thought about times when I haven’t kept my word. I hadn’t called a guy back yet that I told I’d call back on Friday. I called him at 8:30 PM tonight and apologized and accepted full responsibility for not getting back with him to tell him that I don’t yet have an answer. I felt guilty, because I’d lied to him…I promised him I’d call him back, but I didn’t…just like this other guy promised me he’d pay me $2,500 but in the end…didn’t.
I sold my Jeep today. I am glad to get rid of it. We had 4 vehicles for a short time, and I really needed to get rid of one. The process of selling the Jeep was less than what I had hoped for. I assumed that the person who I sold it to was trustworthy, but I found out quickly that he was not a man of his word. It caused me to be introspective and reflect on how I come off to others if I don’t keep my word.
I had a buyer for the Jeep who was going to look at it one more time, and decide if he wanted to buy it. In the mean time a guy who works with my dad looked at it this morning. He called me and asked about buying it. He told me he’d looked at it this morning. After learning of the situation, he told me in no uncertain terms that he would buy it at $2,500 dollars if the other guy backed out and to contact him.
The other guy looked at it and decided to wait. I called the acquaintance of my dad’s, and he went right over to look at it. I was totally honest about the other guy not wanting to buy it right now. I decided then that I’d only accept $500 less than he’d committed to because that’s what I would have actually made on the other deal (a little finder’s fee I had worked out). This guy calls me and says that it really isn’t what he’d thought and wondered if I’d take less. He asked if I’d sell it to him for $2,000. I said, “yes.”
The thing is that the guy would have gotten the Jeep for $2,000 no matter what. It would have been one thing for me to tell him that I’d only take $2,000, but he chose to not be a man of his word. When he showed up the first thing I thought as I looked at him is that he’s a liar. I now have zero respect for him, and I would not believe anything he says.
I thought about this, and I thought about times when I haven’t kept my word. I hadn’t called a guy back yet that I told I’d call back on Friday. I called him at 8:30 PM tonight and apologized and accepted full responsibility for not getting back with him to tell him that I don’t yet have an answer. I felt guilty, because I’d lied to him…I promised him I’d call him back, but I didn’t…just like this other guy promised me he’d pay me $2,500 but in the end…didn’t.
It’s about integrity.
Picture: My wife in front of Tosis bakery in St. Joe. It's here because it makes me feel good.
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