He was a highly talented young man with multifaceted skills. Once he was badly in need of a job and approached a rich man who offered him a job as a chauffer. He asked the young man to come to his home to take up duties. At the time, the rich man was about to sell his old car that had started to give more problems day by day. When the young man reached the rich man’s home, he found him negotiating with a prospective buyer.
The buyer said, “If you could drive me home in this car without a breakdown, I will buy it”. The rich man turned to the young man and told him, “Hey, here is your opportunity, if you could drive him home without a breakdown, you will get a commission and a job here.” He agreed to the deal and somehow managed to take the buyer to his home as required by his condition. The buyer was amazed by his skill and just could not believe it.
He said, “hey, young man tell me honestly whether this car has serious problems or not?” The young man hesitated for a minute and told him that it had problems. He knew he might lose his commission and an opportunity to get a job, which he was very much in need at the time, yet he spoke the truth to the buyer. The buyer was so moved by his honesty that not only did he compensate him with the commission, he offered him a job in his company as well.
This was the very same young man who later on, rose to become the financial advisor to the Government of the United States of America. He was none other than the great Paul Hoffman.
Moral behind the story: Honesty pays