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When was the last time you told a lie?
Was it something personal? Or something related to your business?

We all do it more often than we realise—even if we don’t think of it as lying. We hide the truth, exaggerate, and inflate things, making them seem bigger and better than they really are. We sidestep difficult questions and change the subject to avoid the truth.

Are you guilty of this in business?
You might think hiding the exact details of your operations from your customers is beneficial. But is it really helping? It doesn’t even have to be an outright lie—if your business is built on being difficult, evasive, or indirect, this will eventually spread to your customers, suppliers, and team. In time, trust erodes, and people will look elsewhere.

Look at the entrepreneurs on Dragons’ Den or the Apprentice candidates who lie on their CVs. They always get found out and end up embarrassed, foolish, and uninvestable/unemployable!

Here’s why I’ve always been completely up front and honest:

Keep scrolling to read on.

Why Transparency Matters

Transparency is crucial in business. If you’re a bullshitter, sooner or later you’ll get caught out. This is a life lesson too—one little white lie leads to another, and eventually, the whole charade collapses. Being honest with everyone you deal with is essential.

For instance, you can be transparent about your margins with your customers. No one expects you to run your business out of sheer altruism—customers know you’re here to make money! So, don’t waste time pretending otherwise. Lies waste everyone’s time.

Add Value
You must believe in the value of what you’re offering. What extra value are you providing beyond the actual product? If you’re marking up costs by 50%, what’s in it for the customer? Are you delivering products faster? Offering exceptional customer service? Providing exclusive products due to your incredible supply chain? Be honest about it!

Don’t Sell Yourself Short
Transparency isn’t about discounting. Success isn’t solely about having the lowest prices. If you’re confident and credible enough to be honest about your profit margins—and you offer a compelling product or proposition—then you’ll come out ahead!

Being authentic and honest makes everything simpler. If you need to achieve a specific margin, what’s the worst that could happen if you’re upfront about it? Negotiations become easier and quicker, everyone knows where they stand, and you can focus on what really drives value in your business.

This transparency should extend to your team as well. Clear communication builds trust, which helps retain staff, boosts morale, and enhances productivity.

Remember, honesty is always the best policy.
This theme runs throughout all my content—whether in direct interviews with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and celebrities on my Podcast and YouTube channel, Twitter, LinkedIn, and my Instagram.

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