FBC – 159 – It’s a matter of principles

It’s a matter of principles, so stick to them.

So the subject of the podcast for me today is principles, right? So I like to believe and I like to think that I'm a man of principles. Sadly, I'm not perfect. Right. I’m pretty sure that some sometimes I can bend them or something, but it's hard to find people who stick to their principles.

So for me, I mean, my definition of principle is that it will apply every single time, regardless if it's in your favour or not. OK. And what I see very often is that people ask if they have really strict principles unless when it doesn't suit them, you know.

And there is stuff. I mean, sometimes you're tempted, man. I mean, there is some really tempting stuff out there lurking around you and stuff. But, you know, that's it. If you have a principal. Yeah. It might be hard to like apply in some situations, but you have to. You know, that's how you demonstrate your integrity and your trustworthiness or something.

So I'm not going to say that I never actually, you know, strayed away from my principles. I can't say that because I think I did in the past. But for the last couple of years, I don't think I have.

You know, and again, regardless if it's easy, if it's hard or something, I will still apply it, because at the end of the day, I have to live with myself. You know, I keep repeating that stuff, but you have to live with yourself.

It’s a matter of principles

And it saddens me when I talk to people and they have all these like nice principles and stuff that they never, ever applied themselves. That drives me absolutely insane. Me. I do like the people who walk the walk and they talk the talk and then they walk the walk.

You know, they preach. They practice what they preach. Jesus Christ, I'm really bad with quotations today. And, yeah, it's one thing that I think will help you get forward in life more than a lot of things that you do like the strategies, the tactics, the blah, blah, just staying true to yourself and having some sort of like direction.

You know, your principles are a direction you can just follow . And, you know, regardless what was happening, you have a goal that you want to achieve in the end. And that goal is who you want to be. Okay. That's what the principles are. To take you in the direction of that person you want to be. And every time you apply them, you get one step closer to that person.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to be a person of principles in business?

Being a person of principles in business means your decisions stay the same when nobody is watching as when everybody is. Principles apply when they cost you money, when they cost you a client, and when they cost you a friend. That is the only honest test.

Why is it so hard to stick to your principles every day?

Sticking to principles is hard because the world rewards short term flexibility and punishes long term consistency. Most people bend their rules the moment bending pays better. Real principles cost you in the short run and pay you back in trust, repeat clients, and self respect.

How do principles apply when they cost you money or comfort?

Principles only count when applied against your own interest. Refunding a client even though they accepted the work, telling a partner the project will be late, walking away from cash that came with a string attached. Each one feels like a loss in the moment, then compounds into reputation.

Can you build a successful business without strong principles?

You can build a fast business without strong principles. You cannot build a durable business without them. Sooner or later a values gap shows up in customer service, in partnerships, or in a viral moment, and the unprincipled version of you loses the trust that took years to earn.

About the Author

Martin Ebongue is the founder of martinebongue.com, an online business and lifestyle design blog focused on helping aspiring entrepreneurs build location-independent businesses. Since 2014, he has been creating and scaling online ventures across multiple niches, from digital products and affiliate marketing to SaaS and content platforms, while traveling the world. He shares the real-world strategies, tools, and systems that work, with a particular focus on AI-powered automation for solopreneurs. Follow him on YouTube, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

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