Liar, Liar Pants on Fire

When someone lies, she needs to assume others bridge the gap between her personal and business ethics. A reasonable assumption is that the liar is not a person of integrity and runs an unethical business.

An example illustrates the point.

Last year a new boutique creative agency held a drawing for three $50 Plaza gift cards at a city-wide business competition. It notified the winners but did not send at least one of them the prized gift card, nor did the owner return email or voice mail inquiries--ever.

The small agency is a liar.

As the ignored winner of the gift card, it is disappointing the agency was able to get away with lying to get attention at the competition. I suspect, however, that I am not the only one who knows the agency, and its owner, lied. Plus, if she lied about the gift cards, she lies about other things too. If she has no integrity regarding a silly drawing, she has none regarding more important issues.

Some day, the agency will have to answer for the way it does business. It's not up to me to determine how or when, and frankly, I don't even care, but someone will. Someone will hold the agency accountable for the way it does business and treats people, as all liars do.

The agency is participating in the same competition this year. It will be interesting to see if it uses the same fake ruse to garner attention this year. It is unlikely I will say anything to the owner, as it is not my mission to serve as her conscience. It is unlikely I will call her out with a childish, "Liar, liar pants on fire!"

Besides, she knows she's a liar. That has to be a worse feeling than knowing I know she's one too.