What would be the first thing that would come to your mind if you were asked to describe the state of ethics in business - including network marketing - today?

Would your answer be that the state of ethics is wonderful? How about rock solid? No? I think you would find that if asked and answered honestly, most people are disgusted with it. They are sick of dishonesty and unethical dealings.

If I were to ask you to name a business that had questionable ethics, would the following names be on your list? And how many of these are still in business?

* 180Solutions
* Adelphia Communications
* Arthur Anderson
* Clear Channel Communication
* Enron
* Exxon Mobil
* Global Crossing
* Halliburton
* MCI WorldCom
* Monsanto
* Qwest Communications
* Tyco
* Wal-Mart
* Xerox
* Yahoo
* The United States Government
* etc...

But what if I asked you to make a list of businesses in the network marketing industry that have been accused of questionable ethics? What names would be on your list? How about:

ACN, Fuel Freedom, Omega Trend, Amway, Herbalife, Prepaid Legal Service, Arbonne, Juice Plus, Primerica, Avon, Kleeneze, Quixtar, Bioperformme, Stream Energy, Equinox, Mary Kay, Tahitian Numi, Excel, Neways, XanGo, Forever Living, Nikken, Yor.net, FreeLife, Nu Skin...would the list continue. It does if you search the Internet.

How many of these companies do you think have had their ethics questioned by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission?

It should not come as a shock to you to discover that the large majority of these companies have had their ethics questioned. Actually, it was the distributors of these companies that were questioned mostly.

Of course, the ethical problems we're seeing aren't limited to just the business world. The public was horrified by the recently revealed abuses that occurred in the Catholic Church and how the incidents were covered up. Now I am not taking (and will not take) a stand on a particular religion. However, I will touch on spirituality.

What bothers me about the cover-ups of this "religious" community is how many individuals have been permanently affected without any retribution.

Have you ever wondered how much confidence you have in your own community's leaders? I refer to leaders like teachers, small business owners, journalists and reporters, elected officials, or even executives of large corporations.

When pollster George Barnett asked people whether they had "complete confidence" that leaders from various professions would "consistently make the job related decisions that are morally appropriate," the results were abysmal.

* Executives of large corporations (3%)
* Elected government officials (3%)
* Film and TV producers, directors and writers (3%)
* Reporters and journalists (5%)
* Small business owners (8%)
* Ministers, priests and clergy (11%)
* Teachers (14%)

What is revealing is that even regarding the most trusted leaders (teachers), six out of seven people are unwilling to give them their complete trust.

Where does that leave us in society? Where does this leave us within the network marketing industry?

My next article entitled "Is there an Ethical Dilemma within Network Marketing?" will explore more into this question of ethics in the network marketing industry.

See you on the Beaches of the World,

Kevin McNabb

The Responsible Network Marketer

Kevin McNabb is the author of The Responsible Network Marketer Series.
Chief Executive Officer of Toronto-based Global-Networking-Online.com, and
GlobalHealthMgmt.com, he offers seminars, and conducts Internet training programs
on personal development for the Network Marketing industry at www.KevinMcNabb.com.
He can be reached at 416/536-0123 or e-mail to kevinmcnabb@rogers.com.com

For more information see http://www.global-networking-online.com/Ethics.html
To purchase "The Responsible Network Marketer's Guide to Ethics,"
see http://www.global-networking-online.com/Ethics_Invitation.html (Includes a FREE Chapter)