Thought, Word, Deed: The secret to living with integrity and productivity

Photo: DG1

For example, let’s say you have a thought. “I want to be a successful business owner.” You may even tell your friends or relatives that this is what you want to do. So your thought and your words match, but what about your actions? Do you work and save money to accumulate the capital necessary to open your own business? Do you research start up or acquisition opportunities relentlessly? Do you work hard, right now, right where you are?

If your deeds don’t match your thoughts and your words, that’s a red flag. You’re not being honest with yourself, or you don’t really know yourself fully yet. That’s my guess, anyway, but in any event, it still leaves you with more work to do. You have to get your thoughts, words, and deeds to match up.

Otherwise, you will be unhappy and not make progress. Of course, when someone’s thoughts are not the same as their words or deeds, we refer to them as liars or hypocrites, or maybe just politicians, depending on the severity of the gap between the two.

Any contradiction between the three–thought, word, and deed–must be examined and resolved. Then we can move on effectively, honestly, and productively. We don’t have any mixed emotions about how we spend our time and money. We are free. We are energized.

Photo: Gotham © DC

For example, let’s say you have a thought. “I want to be a successful business owner.” You may even tell your friends or relatives that this is what you want to do. So your thought and your words match, but what about your actions? Do you work and save money to accumulate the capital necessary to open your own business? Do you research start up or acquisition opportunities relentlessly? Do you work hard, right now, right where you are?

If your deeds don’t match your thoughts and your words, that’s a red flag. You’re not being honest with yourself, or you don’t really know yourself fully yet. That’s my guess, anyway, but in any event, it still leaves you with more work to do. You have to get your thoughts, words, and deeds to match up.

Otherwise, you will be unhappy and not make progress. Of course, when someone’s thoughts are not the same as their words or deeds, we refer to them as liars or hypocrites, or maybe just politicians, depending on the severity of the gap between the two.

Any contradiction between the three–thought, word, and deed–must be examined and resolved. Then we can move on effectively, honestly, and productively. We don’t have any mixed emotions about how we spend our time and money. We are free. We are energized.

Contributor

Byron Tully (right)

Grandson of a newspaper publisher and son of an oil industry executive, Byron Tully is an author who also writes for the entertainment industry. His nonfiction debut, "The Old Money Book," was published in April of 2013 to excellent reviews and enjoys consistently strong sales worldwide. His other works include "The Old Money Guide To Marriage", "Old Money, New Woman: How To Manage Your Money and Your Life", and "Old Money Style - The Gentleman's Edition".

Byron regularly contributes to its blog, www.theoldmoneybook.com, which has been visited by over 1 million readers since 2014.

In February of 2020, "Old Money Style - The Gentleman's Edition" was published by Acorn Street Press. This fourth book in the Old Money series reveals the fundamentals of dressing well in a classic and timeless style. In November of 2020, Byron published a 2nd Edition of "The Old Money Book", which expands on his original classic. This 2nd Edition includes vital information and insights for readers as they navigate a very different, post-pandemic world.

Byron speaks frequently about the culture and values of Old Money. He has been interviewed by KABC New York's Financial Quarterback Show, The Huffington Post, and The Simple Dollar, among others.

He lives in Paris and is happily married to an Old Money Gal from Boston.