An ode to true ethics

An organization I am a member of (EO) asked members to write about Business Ethics for an upcoming issue. It got me thinking about the importance and the definition of true ethics.

Ethics.

its not a department
its not a business function
its not what you do,

its who you are
its based on your value system

it permeates every decision you make
it determines your tolerance level to everything around you
it determines what kind of people you deal with, you hire, you fire, you surround yourself with
it determines if money is the end or the means to another end

its your litmus test
its your barometer
its your scales of justice

its integrity
and its the most important asset you'll ever have.