"Trust No One" - A Realistic Advice from Attila the HUN

Our generation needs an ENTREPRENEURIAL REVOLUTION.

This runs counter to the mantra of criminal prosecution or civil rights - no one is presumed guilty unless proven otherwise. In my experience though, I would like to side more on Attila the Hun's advice - "trust no one." We lost a lot of resources because of trusting people so much. We need to install systems and procedure to lessen the temptation of people to run away with business money. Up and down the organization, internal control system must be in place. Especially for people at the top. Those who have authority and power and people under them use their authority in the wrong way, ie to steal money from the company.

I have experienced very recently whose name indicated that he could be trusted (but was not): he reimbursed gasoline for his personal use from the company, he took home company collections, which he did without authorization, spent the revolving fund etc. and we have filed appropiate remedies to recover the amounts he owes us. We also had a case of Latin honors graduate who took home P300,000+ of money from collections. (She died of cancer while we were having the court trials) We had a driver who took delivery of tires batteries, spare parts (which he resold) without an approved Purchase Order. He died from a homicide and did not have to face investigations/trial.

This is not unique experience for us. I know of an executive who complains of top executives from Ivy Schools who were dishonest.

And the recent financial woes in the world markets were also due to execs who are dishonest

For once, those who talk about values, integrity, and honesty are right. They need to come back to our business leaders and execs.

In the meantime though, we have to exercise caution as "Desiderata" says, "for the world is full of trickery". Trust no one.

Because