If you’re new here, welcome! Every week, we unpack leadership, mindset, and personal growth into something real and doable. Expect research-backed insights, a little storytelling, and practical ideas that actually fit into your life (even the messy parts).

Let’s dive in.

There’s a Chinese wisdom tale I love.

An aging emperor wanted to find a worthy successor.

He gathered all the children in the kingdom and gave each of them a seed.

“You have six months to grow the most beautiful plant. Whoever does will be my heir.”

On the final day, the children returned with vibrant flowers and towering plants.

All except one boy.

He stood quietly, shoulders sunken, holding a pot of dirt.

The others laughed as the emperor called him forward.

“What do you have here?”

“I gave it sunlight. I watered it. I cared for it every day. But nothing grew,” the boy whispered, embarrassed.

The emperor simply smiled.

“The seeds I gave you were boiled. None of them could grow. You were the only one honest enough to tell the truth. You will be my successor.”

It’s a simple story—but it holds a powerful lesson:

Integrity means doing the right thing, even when it looks like you’ve failed.

Last year, we had a client who trusted us with a major project.

We promised top-tier service. I truly believed we could deliver.

But as things unfolded, we got stretched too thin.

Deadlines were met. Work was done. But it wasn’t our best.

Here’s the thing: the client was happy. No complaints. No red flags.

But in my gut, I knew we hadn’t delivered as promised.

I wrestled with whether I should say anything.

It would’ve been easy to stay quiet and tell myself, “They’re satisfied. Let it go.”

But that boy with the pot of dirt kept nagging at me.

So on our next Zoom call, I spoke up.

I shared where we’d fallen short.

What we’d learned.

How we’d fix it.

And I offered a discount.

They were surprised—and grateful.

That honesty strengthened our relationship far more than pretending everything was fine.

Today, they’re one of our most valued clients.

(And account for many of our referrals.)

It might feel counterintuitive, but admitting a mistake can actually strengthen trust—especially when you handle the recovery with honesty and care.

Here are three research-backed reasons why:

In service businesses, there’s a surprising truth:

Customers who experience a failure—but see it handled well—often become more loyal than if nothing had gone wrong at all.

It’s called the Service Recovery Paradox. Studies show that a proactive, thoughtful response to a shortfall can deepen loyalty—because it gives people a glimpse of your true character.

In other words: how you respond matters more than what went wrong.

In my case, that meant owning our underperformance and offering to make it right—without being asked.

That moment of vulnerability did more to build trust than a flawlessly executed project ever could.

In relationships, it’s not about being flawless. It’s about making repairs.

Dr. John Gottman, a leading researcher on marriage and trust, found that the strongest relationships don’t avoid conflict—they repair quickly and sincerely when conflict happens.

Trust isn’t broken by the mistake. It’s broken by the cover-up, the silence, the avoidance.

This insight applies to teams, friendships, and families too.

When we acknowledge where we’ve fallen short and take steps to make it right, we send a clear message:

“You matter more to me than my ego.”

What about teams and leadership?

Harvard’s Amy Edmondson coined the term psychological safety—the idea that people do their best work when they feel safe to take risks, ask questions, and yes, admit mistakes.

Integrity creates safety.

When leaders go first—owning errors, correcting course, showing humility—it opens the door for others to do the same.

That’s when teams become more collaborative, creative, and resilient.

But integrity isn’t about being perfect.

Because none of us are.

It’s about having the courage to be honest—especially when it’s hard.

And I’ll be real: it’s still hard for me.

It’s a muscle I’m still learning to use.

But there are ways to help you make better decisions with integrity...

Next time you’re facing a tough call, ask yourself:

• Am I doing what I promised—or what’s easiest?

• Would I be proud to explain this choice to someone who trusts me?

• Am I choosing long-term trust over a short-term win?

They won’t make the decision painless.

But they’ll make it a lot clearer.

And sometimes, all we need is a bit of clarity.

At the end of the day, we all have “empty pot” moments.

When everyone else seems to be flourishing, and you’re standing there with nothing but soil and shame.

Sometimes, that’s the moment that defines you—not because you nailed it, but because you didn’t fake it.

People don’t need you to be perfect.

They need you to be real.

They need teammates, leaders, and friends who show up with honesty and integrity—even when that’s the hardest thing to do.

So, if there’s a truth you’ve been avoiding or a conversation you’ve postponed…

Maybe this is your moment.

Not to hide and ignore it.

But to tackle it with integrity.

Because integrity doesn’t mean getting it right every time.

It means being willing to make it right—even when it’s hard.

Until next week,
Justin

P.S.

Have you ever had an “empty pot” moment?

Hit reply—I’d love to hear your story.

1. The Darkside of Integrity – Trudi West

Explores how even value-driven leaders can act out of alignment under pressure—and how recognizing this helps us lead with greater authenticity.
Watch on TED →

2. Simplifying Humility and Integrity – Joe Sabini

Breaks down what humility and integrity actually mean in practice, and how small, everyday choices reflect these values.
Watch on TED →

3. Empathy With Integrity: Choosing Our Truth – Amy Reeves

Shows how we can speak our truth without sacrificing compassion—and why integrity often requires navigating tough conversations with empathy.
Watch on TED →