Ethics: Other People Matter

Ethics is about more than personal gain or what you can get away with. It’s about recognizing that there is such a thing as right and wrong. And our choices affect others.

When we talk about “others,” it’s easy to think of family, friends, and colleagues. But ethics extends beyond the people we already know. It includes strangers, competitors, and even those who may never meet us face to face. To act ethically is to treat all people fairly, whether or not they can do anything for us in return.

Ethics demands fairness, honesty, and accountability. It’s choosing transparency when deception would be easier. It’s giving respect to people who can’t advance our careers or reputations. And it’s remembering that every decision, big or small, ripples outward.

At the end of the day, ethics is not abstract philosophy. It’s daily practice. It’s the reminder that how we treat others, known or unknown, is the true measure of integrity.

John Bradley Jackson
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