Two things caught my eye this week: According to the old adage of journalism, when a dog bites a man that is not news, but when a man bites a dog that is news. In Thursday’s paper there was an article about Kansas City Royals’ pitcher Gil Meeche who retired last week because of a chronically painful right shoulder. Now this sort of thing happens all the time. So why is Meeche’s retirement news? Because when the pitcher retired he also walked away from a $12 million contract.
“When I signed my contract, my main goal was to earn it,” Meeche told The New York Times. “Once I started to realize I wasn’t earning my money, I felt bad. I was making a crazy amount of money for not even pitching. Honestly, I didn’t feel like I deserved it.”
Meeche did not want any of the paycheck he was due. “No settlement, no buyout, no strings.” Nothing.
The article names other athletes who walked away from lucrative contracts, and a few more who continued to take their salaries even thought they were sidelined with injuries. It also points out that no one expects an injured athlete to just walk away. Yet, that’s exactly what Meeche is doing.
“This isn’t about being a hero,” he said. “That’s not even close to what it’s about. It’s just me getting back to a point in my life where I’m comfortable.”
It sounds both heroic and refreshing to me. And while most of us would agree that it’s the right thing to do, I think we’d also agree that the right path is not often the easiest route to take, nor the one most traveled.
While I was thinking about this, I received a letter from a client labeled “Personal and Confidential.”
Let me start by saying that business letters addressed that way don’t usually contain good news. And since this letter was from a client who owes us money, my expectation of good news wasn’t very high.
The letter was from the marketing director. He began by explaining that even though he had approved the work we had done and his company had used it, his bosses didn’t want to pay what they owed us. As he wrote, “The organization has chosen to take a position that these items were not as promised and thus not responsible for payment. I do not agree with this position and find it embarrassing… The materials delivered were as specified and completed.”
He continues, “This puts me in an uncomfortable position. I value my standing with my peers, vendors and friends and choose to be seen now and in the future as a person of integrity and one who believes that long-term relationships, both personal and professional, are more important that short-term financial or ego-driven positions.”
“Please accept, without contest, my position to honor the commitment that I made, first personally and second professionally.”
Folded within the letter was a personal check, made out to our firm, for $4,900.
A few weeks ago, in my blog post The Five Rules for Creative Success in 2011, point five was “They Don’t Buy What You Do. They Buy Who You Are.” In it I wrote, “…your consumers want much more than what you do for them. They want a relationship. They want you.”
Pitcher Gil Meeche and our client certainly understand this. What they proved by putting their money where their mouths are is that what matters to them are their relationships and the value of their own personal brands.
Meeche says that now that his baseball career is over he “has no specific plans, except to settle in his hometown and see his children whenever he wants.” My marketing director friend (name changed to protect the virtuous) has not indicated that he wants to make any career changes but if your firm is looking for a terrific marketing professional with proven integrity, let me know and I’ll inquire discreetly.
Tags: Gil Meeche, Kansas City Royals
Bruce, Meeche is from Lafayette and a \Cajun\. that is the way we raise our children here in Southwest Louisiana. Not surprised he did what he did . Hope all is well. Gerald
Bravo to Gil Meeche and your client! These acts help restore faith that at least some people will do the right thing. Can you imagine something like this happening on Wall Street? Talk about battered brands!
Wow! Being 100% personally responsible … I believe (or hope) honor and dignity are making a comeback!
At the end of the day we all should know Saint Peter will not give you a ‘pass’ at the Pearly Gates because your boss ‘told you to.’ Bravo!
Good karma all over. They both must have wise, old souls.
Amazing! Best wishes to both of them and Bruce thank you for writing.
Integrity is a lot like common sense, it’s not all that common. I applaud this gentleman for having both.
Great message Bruce. Those attitudes unfortunately are few and far between. If I were looking for a marketing professional now I’d call you in an instant.
Thank you, Bruce, for showing us two fine examples of integrity, and for reminding us that it still exists.
Bruce, as always, another brilliant blog. Your story is about leading by example. I’ve worked for people who go back on their word, and it’s awful to be stuck in the middle. I appreciate what your client did. I strive to over-deliver on all my projects. You either have character or not – and these two stories are outstanding examples of people with character.
Per your request, Bruce, I’d like to share this story with your readers.
Back when I sold advertising for a tourist publication in Las Vegas, I had to hound an Elvis impersonator for money after his show on the strip closed. It pained me – as he told me he had to borrow the money from his parents. I recommended he just keep paying a few hundred dollars until the balance had been settled – but I thought our company should have made an adjustment. BTW, shows are the WORST for paying.
Years later, I was able to book this incredibly talented performer through my speakers bureau and give him a check (for more than he owed the magazine at the end of his run.) I told him it had never given me more pleasure to give anyone a check.
Power…fabulous.
Bruce – I enjoy all of your messages but this one in particular was GREAT reading. Thanks for sharing.
This is a very important blog on true Purpose.
Bruce if you will permit I would like to use some of these stories in future talks with credit to you obviously, on the power of realizing who we are, what we stand for, outside of the world’s definition of \success\ (money).
A business, and more importantly a life, not built upon the value of integrity doesn’t contribute to the economy or enhance the quality of this wonderful world we live in. Thankfully our Country was founded upon basic, fundamental principles of honesty and ever so often we hear stories as important as this. Powerful examples to live by. These are every day heroes.
Thank you for this awesome Blog post, keep them coming!
Powerful and inspiring article Bruce!
Bruce- I regularly read your blogs and often share them with friends and co-workers but I seldom post comments. This one truly hit a soft spot. Brilliant! It was inspiring and liberating!
Jeez, Bruce. You stole my thunder. I was saving that baseball story for my blog on “principles” based vs. “rules” based society. Oh, well. Back to the drawing board.
3 cheers for Meeche, 3 cheers for the marketing director, and 3 for you for putting out such a strong positive message! Thanks!
Could you correct my web-site link? Thanks.
I am response number 4.
I certainly appreciate your article and the comments of readers. Very few persons will understand the meaning of “bearing one another’s burdens, even while carrying your own”.
However, this is exactly what we are called to do, if we want to live by example, being doers of the word, and not hears only.
Dear Bruce,
Thanks for sharing this story. So often, we want to go with the flow, because it is the line of least resistance. However, when we try to save our skin in the short run, we can lose it in the long run.
Some time ago, I had the unfortunate experience of having to close down a Real Estate and Construction Business, almost overnight. In short, I was robbed, as one of three Directors, as the other two (impatient males) depleted the remaining balance of our account, and fled.
I was placed in the position as a female Managing Director with heart, to also quit, leaving all clients holding the bag, to try to salvage the impossible situation, or to devote the next years in trying to settle as much as possible, those outstanding payables to the many clients who trusted and depended on us.
I chose the latter, which, needless to say, was the most challenging ! I had to forego my own personal and family commitments , in favour of the other persons, who themselves had their own mortgages to attend.
I had to face the responsibility of communicating with clients, receiving orders to pay, obtaining closing financial statements, meeting outstanding taxes and incurring legal expenses.
In the midst of accepting a degree of blame, I wanted most of all, to help to preserve the “Integrity” of the institution, and by extension, the whole profession.
In all of this, I had to call on the Divine, for strength, guidance and provision. I gave up all of my own resources, including my home, which had been previously, completely paid off, in order to satisfy the just requirements of others.
Today, I consider myself blessed, and most of all, at peace with myself, in the world of so much confusion.
I am blessed, because my family has stood by me, my husband of 44 years, and our children, all love and respect each other.
We use our experiences to minister to persons who are disadvantaged, misled, and in despair, knowing that “ a man’s life consists not in the abundance of things which he possesses”. I believe that by the Grace of God, I have passed through the fire, and have gained strength for any
eventuality.
Our children are all gainfully employed, we live in modest comfort, and have the peace that passes all human understanding, and we owe it to our creator.
We just had a personal experience at Disney World where an employee of likely very modest means could have pocketed something of great value, but chose to “do the right thing” by us. Perhaps good will and integrity ARE out there in abundance, but we hear about the negatives (i.e. Wall St.) too often?
Its obvious from the number of replies that this has hit home with folks.
Your piece has been circulated amongst the management team not only to enlighten their professional drive but to become better people.