“SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.”
Talk to any good coyote trapper and they will tell you, a coyote is a sly dog. He will dig, scratch, and steal any opportunity he can. ANY good coyote man can tell you this truth.
They will come to check out that newly dug hole in the earth to see if they can get an easy meal stashed by some uncaring individual. They take the shortest routes to hunt, rob, scavenge, and survive. You can attempt to trap them out of an area, but they will be back relentlessly.
The dog, a cousin to the wily coyote, was domesticated to serve as a guardian and to help us in hunting and herding animals. As society progressed, dogs were carefully selected for many specialized jobs.
Today, most dogs are simply fulfilling their role as "Man's Best Friend". According to statistics, 70 million American households are proudly "owned" by a dog. The multimillion-dollar business around companion canines is evidence to our loyalty...Yet, if you give Rover a chance, at the right time and place, he will not be so sincere in his love for his master.
He will steal meatballs off of your counter, chicken off your plate, sleep in your bed, destroy your shoes, and otherwise take advantage any way he can. His thanks for all the loving care you give will be a mess left on the floor. Yet, we are hopelessly devoted to these lovable creatures.
Don Tyson and other early American businessmen did business with a sincere handshake.
Zig Ziglar mentioned his mothers' words reminding him of one fateful day in his life. "If your word is no good, you're no good."
A modern business would flip upside down without a contract, yet the clay tablets of Babylon I'm sure were broken.
Can we still operate using the honor system today? Most say, "No way. You'll be stabbed in the back." and "The ones you're closest to and help the most will be the first to cut you."
In a world of anti-social media, we are surrounded by false motives, heavily filtered, brushed-up ideas, lives, and appearances. Who can you trust and be sincere with? It is hard to know. The sad truth is, not many. When the rubber meets the road, most are out for their own self-interest and will, like the coyote, take advantage of any chance they get.
With Poor Richard's advice, we can remind ourselves to use sincerity in our interactions with our fellow man. Do you truly care about others, or are you like the coyotes fighting over the easy meal?
There is plenty. Be sincere. Be just. Be real.
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