Supporting What’s Right Amid Fallout

Had we signed the contract to partner with that institution in hosting our 2017 event, I have no doubt that attendance (and revenue) would have been significantly higher - that day. Living through each adversity prior to that provided a tremendous foundation for us to stand on in that moment, though. Years of scarcity, being ostracized by many who we viewed as close friends, and taking several significant career leaps taught us that no single instance, regardless of the immediate financial opportunity or potential for loss, is worth making a compromise on our core values. As tough as each of those had been individually, they provided us with the strength we needed to stand firm when our choice was to buckle or to do what was viewed as taking on an established entity.

Just so you have a bit more perspective on how outlandish the terms of that contract was, signing it would have prohibited me from working with the company I was employed by at the time for the next twelve months since that organization had already agreed to partner with us on the event. Again, the folks in charge made it abundantly clear that there was no wiggle room in the language. For that company, and any other company or individual we brought to the table, we never took the responsibility of providing best-in-class service lightly. Turning those clients over to another entity where we had no hand in the level of service they would receive just wasn’t something we could do, even before considering the financial ramifications of sacrificing just a portion of our existing client base as we started our business.

Still yet, this was - at least at face value - a David versus Goliath situation: Wes and Cindy Dove in their fledgling business going against a long-standing, state-funded institution. Face value be damned, we chose to support what was right and let the chips fall where they may. Advocacy without title, reputation, or financial backing tests cooperation and courage; assuming full responsibility for outcomes clarifies values and builds quiet strength.

This wasn’t a loud confrontation for the entire world to see, but it definitely forced us to fight for the values we held most dear. And while some of our fight was based on protecting the client base we had been working so hard to establish, we were even more focused on sticking to our principles and ensuring that each of those clients received tremendous value for the trust and investment they made in their time with us.

As we move forward, I’ll press you to search through scenarios you’ve faced where someone has pushed you to compromise on your core values. Before that, though, think about a current (or recent) pattern of institutional friction you’ve had to deal with. What’s one clear, values-based first step you need to take to identify and begin actively nurturing the seed that could lead to your equal or greater benefit?