An ounce of loyalty is better than a pound of cleverness

"Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without the first, you really want them to be dumb and lazy." - Warren Buffett.

Storyline:

Temujin, or Genghis Khan as we know him, was a great thirteenth century Mongol warrior who had conquered more land in 25 years than the Romans did in 400 years. In the process he connected many civilizations from Europe to Asia. He abolished the old system based on special privilege for the rich and introduced a more equitable system based on qualifications and accomplishments. He lived the simple life of a nomad, distributed his wealth to people and established a fair system based on law and order. 

In war he was ruthless but in friendship he was kind. He valued loyalty as a very important trait in people.

In the early 13th century, the Mongol forces finally defeated their archrival Jamuka once and for all. Jamuka fled to distant mountains with some of his soldiers.  The life in exile was very difficult and hard to handle for soldiers who had prospered under Jamuka and were used to life of affluence. Unable to cope with the harsh life, they tied up their leader and took him to Temujin hoping for amnesty and a handsome reward.

Guess what Temujin did to those soldiers?

Temujin executed them all.

But to his opponent he was gracious, and asked Jamuka to join him.

Reflection:

For Temujin, loyalty was not selective for good times and richness only. What do you think those soldiers would have done to him if he was having tough times?

It is in the bad times that a persons’ loyalty is truly tested.

Comments

[a guy from china]

What time are you from, man?

The whole system to capitalism is based on no loyalty, "freedom" or "liberty" in better words. The whole concept is the labor do not need to be tied with the "owners" or "masters" and can work freely in the city for the industry. So now you pick up a story almost 1000 years ago, in another end of the earth, to try to cleaverly support some word from Warren Buffett as a Friday reflection? You need to double check with Warren Buffett himself to see your "loyalty" has the same meaning of his "integrity", if you can speak with him.

this is a joke. Lol.

[Manufacturing Guy]

Interesting perspectives!
As demonstrated countless times in team sports and in business. Success is based on your team-mate/partner/colleague "being there/executing/supporting" when the times are tough. (could be called integrity/could be called loyalty). The cult of selfish "what's in it for me" at the expense of team-mates/partners and colleagues eventually lead to your or your companies demise.
"When the bullets start flying, which kind of person do you want standing beside you?"

[shafqat]

Great post! So translating to a different field, does this mean that in business we should be ruthless, but in friendship kind? Or can a business survive without being ruthless?

Shafqat

[Micro-CEO in training]

This is memorable.
Last week I visited my alma mater primary school and sat in on the first grade class. In the morning the students gathered around for circle time (morning meeting), and I watched as the teacher dilligently reminded her students about of the importance and application of the 4 C's: Courtesy, Carefulness, Consideration, and Cooperation. (Loyalty is not listed, but I believe it is implied). Perhaps these are the embodiment of Integrity. Needless to say, I was impressed by this teacher.

To the "Guy from China" I would like to reply that there may be cultural or historical reasons to find fault with the word "loyalty", but perhaps cooperation is a more innocuous term where we can find ground to cuncur. Who would deny that integrity and cooperation are the very glue that holds our society together? These are consistent even with a capitalistic society, since only cooperation and win-win relationships can foster sustained success.

In the world of diamonds, we also speak of 4 C's: Carat, Clarity, Colour, Cut are the qualities that determine brilliance, fire, and final value. I believe Courtesy, Carefulness, Consideration, and Cooperation are what give humans our brilliance, fire, and final value in society.

(P.S. : I love the quote from A.Lincoln! Thanks to S. Murphy)

[Oliver]

Unfortunately loyalty is a lost term in the fast paced business world. When multinational corporations layoff 1000s of workers at the blink of an eye, why should employees be loyal to their company?

[Oliver]

Unfortunately loyalty is a lost term in the fast paced business world. When multinational corporations layoff 1000s of workers at the blink of an eye, why should employees be loyal to their company?

[Oliver]

Unfortunately loyalty is a lost term in the fast paced business world. When multinational corporations layoff 1000s of workers at the blink of an eye, why should employees be loyal to their company?

[Richard]

Loyalty and integrity are not the same thing.

Loyalty is when you do something you disagree with because your "leader" asked you to. Integrity is when you don't do something you disagree with even though your "leader" told you to.

Loyalty is something you give to another person, to the detriment of everyone else. Integrity is something you have within yourself, to the benefit of everyone.

Hire people with integrity: they will give you their best work while they are with you, and keep your secrets when they leave.

Don't hire people with loyalty: they will give you their best work while they are still with you, but will give away your secret to their new master when their loyalties change.

[Layli]

I agree with your post, Richard. Integrity bears loyalty and not vice versa. Hire people with integrity, and it's like hiring ten.