Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

Those of you who have been hiding in a cave without TV, radio, internet or newspapers, have missed the story of Brian Williams.  He's the newscaster who embellished the story of his helicopter ride through Hezbollah gun fire in 2003.  His original story, which was the truth, was that he was flying in a convoy, and another of the helicopters in the convoy was hit by rocket fire.  Sometime later, in 2006, he started telling an alternate story, one in which his helicopter was struck by the rocket fire.  Recently, his deception came to light.  What result?  The public began to question his coverage of other big stories.  Was he telling the truth when he reported during Hurricane Katrina?  Wait....that story was 10 years ago.  Wouldn't people just question his veracity going forward?  Nope.  Everything he has ever said is now suspect.

I can't think of a better way to describe what I call the "liar, liar, pants on fire" syndrome.  One of the most important things I tell clients is that it is important to tell the truth.  Don't embellish.  Don't omit.  Don't fudge.  Most importantly, don't tell a big lie.  I don't care the reason.  Don't lie.  Chances are really excellent the lie, omission, exaggeration, or white lie will be discovered.  Once it is, nothing that comes out of that person's mouth will ever be trusted again.  The teller of a little white lie is the same as a big fat liar in an judge's court room.  Don't believe me?  Ask Brian Williams and the court of public opinion.  Here in the Trenches.