There is good and evil in this world, but also something else that's even more insidious than evil: Temptation.

Temptation confuses good people into making bad decisions.

Let me give you an example. I have a very close friend. He had a business a few years ago that was well-funded by a venture capital fund. Unexpectedly, the fund shut down. His company had no debt, but also no money. He was forced to lay-off all 40 employees in one day. He couldn't help it. He started to cry before he could finish the layoff announcement.

He did not want to quit. He tried a few more weeks to find a way for the business to survive. One of his past employees recommended he meet with a successful entrepreneur that the employee knew through his Bible study. My friend was hopeful this might be an answer to his prayers.

The entrepreneur met with my friend and said he could help my friend achieve his dreams. Basically... he told my friend what he wanted to hear. So my friend put aside his concerns about violating the trust his employees and vendors had put in him. He justified his selfish motivation with potential good intentions, but the bottom line was to move ahead meant he had to sacrifice his integrity.

About ten months later my friend's business was $1 million dollars in debt and losing more than $100,000 a month. The situation had moved from unhappy to ugly. And it got worse until the day he closed the company without being able to pay its debts.

Why do I tell you this story? Because the Christmas season focuses on relationships and hopes for the new year.

Question: After investing years of your life to demonstrate you are a person of integrity, are you being tempted to shortchange employees, vendors, family or friends who have trusted you just so you can increase your wealth or opportunities?

Don't answer too quickly. Consider the Meeting Ideas below.

Be an intentional leader.

Meeting Ideas

Be Careful What You Ask For is a reminder that we all are in the "people business." Our relationships with people determine our financial success and personal fulfillment on and off the job.

Here are some ideas for discussion during your next staff meeting about how to confirm your company and financial goals are as sincere as you think they are:

1. What goals have you set for your people to prosper? You are defining your December and 2010 goals. What do you want your people to achieve for their benefit? Yes, it may also help you succeed, but true servant leaders focus primarily on their people.

NOTE: My friend only set goals to prosper himself.

2. Are your goals in conflict with the goals you set for your people? Consider how your goals affect the relationships you have built-up over time:
• Employees (and possibly, their families)
• Clients
• Vendors
• Shareholders
• Your family
• Your friends
NOTE: My friend set goals to prosper himself. Although he talked with a number of people, he only paid attention to people who agreed with him.

3. Ask the people you trust for their opinion. This can include:
• Employees who report directly to you
• Mentors you do NOT want to talk with but who have been right in the past
• People who will tell you what they feel is right even when you do not want to hear it
NOTE: My friend only listened to people who agreed with him. If you are unwilling to talk with people who have given you good advice or employees who have served you well, then this is a major warning sign that the goals you are pursuing may jeopardize your integrity.

4. How do your goals serve God? (However you define God to be)

NOTE: This is a personal question you can ask yourself, but allow your people to answer this on their own. My friend knew he was violating his faith, but he justified it by thinking it would only be temporary. The effects of sacrificing your integrity are never temporary.