A couple of weeks ago, I attended a Schoolcraft presentation entitled “Business Ethics.” I have to admit, before I arrived, I thought it would be a presentation on a more general topic of business ethics. However, to my liking, I was quite wrong. The self-told autobiography of a former budding investment banker, was absolutely shocking. He told of his short 7 year journey to the top, where he was making a salary in the amount of a half a million dollars a year. By the looks of him, one would never expect his life that followed. He got caught in illegally trading investors money between portfolios. He was then sentenced to 30 months in prison and lost everything, his house, his family, his job, his reputation, to name a few.
Most shocking was his response to being handcuffed and taken to prison. He said that he had stood there with his head held high and a smile on his face. His life was finally his and not a lie. He had been held accountable for all his wrongdoings and he could be more satisfied and free. Recently, he was released from prison with no more than the clothes on his back and $50 in his wallet. As part of his punishment, he is never allowed to enter the financial world, which is now no big deal to him. His passion is now to tell his story, in his way, paying it forward.
This presentation was not only interesting, but motivational as well. I took the idea, that it’s never too late. There is always a chance to change your life around. In addition, to thank God everyday, not for the things, but the people that you have. Everything else can be taken away, but the one’s you love will always be with you.
