Grappling with the Gray

Here’s this week's episode's ethics challenge:

A 30-year old, attractive, fluent English speaking woman from central Africa published a memoir detailing her abduction and forced marriage as a teenager.  Subsequently, she escaped and found refuge in America, where she distinguished herself in college and graduate school.  As a speaker and writer, she has brought attention to the plight of child-brides and child-soldiers in Africa.

Through her story, she has raised millions of dollars, generated mass-media attention, and catalyzed international efforts that are making a dramatic, positive difference in the lives of thousands of children.

You discover that her own personal story is a lie.  However, you believe that she was motivated not by personal profit or fame, but rather by the belief that she was uniquely positioned to motivate interest in a cause that had gone largely ignored… which she clearly has done.

Will you expose her story as fraudulent?

Meet this week’s panelists:

Mark Brown is a world champion speaker, an executive speaking coach, and former director of community relations.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-l-brown-speaker/

Deb Coviello, The Drop In CEO, who drops into your business, partners with you and helps you to navigate to steady waters by elevating your people for lasting impact.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahacoviello/

Paul Edwards used to drive large military vehicles through the deserts of the Middle East, armed with an assault rifle. Today, frequently gets mistaken for a therapist, because his occupation of ghostwriting requires him to ask questions first, and shoot later.”

https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetpauledwards/

Welcome to Grappling with the Gray, a forum for promoting the development of an ethical mindset and ethical decision-making to help us clearly see both sides of complex issues and better navigate the moral challenges of everyday life.

You can’t be ethical until you’ve fully examined and understood both sides of any issue.

Few things in life are black and white.  That’s why we have to learn to Grapple with the Gray.

This episode's ethical challenge:

Flying with children poses a variety of difficulties.  Aside from the challenge of managing youthful squirreliness within the confines of a crowded passenger compartment, even booking the flight might not be simple.  Airline policies change from time to time, and different companies have different rules.

Imagine this real-life scenario:

You’re traveling a across the Atlantic with your toddler.  The airline you’re flying charges 10% of the ticket price to hold the child in your lap.  However, that deal is only available for children under two.  Your child is 26 months, just over the limit, for which the airline requires you to buy the child her own seat for 90% of the full ticket price.

You know the child will spend virtually the entire trip in your lap regardless, so you see paying for a seat as a waste of money.  However, you don’t want to lie to the airline.

Your travel agent offers the following suggestion:

Buy the 10% ticket.  Don’t offer any information about your child’s age.  In all probability, the flight attendants will admit your family on the plane without question.  If they ask your child’s age, answer truthfully.  If they tell you there is an age limit, apologize for your error and offer to pay for the seat.

Meet this episode's panelists:

Mariah Edgington, BSN, RN Edgington is a retired critical care and emergency nurse, speaker, mindset coach, and author of the newly released book, Journey Well, You Are MORE Than Enough.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahedgington/

Catherine Fitzgerald is owner of Catapult Leadership Group. After surviving her own harrowing leadership roles as CEO and mother of three boys, she dedicates herself to working with organizational leaders as they navigate the choppy waters of aligning people, performance, and profits.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-a-fitzgerald/

Jeff Koziatek is a speaker, author, and juggler who coaches business leaders for peak performance, professional success, and personal freedom.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkoziatek/

Welcome to Grappling with the Gray, a forum for promoting the development of an ethical mindset and ethical decision-making to help us clearly see both sides of complex issues and better navigate the moral challenges of everyday life.

You can’t be ethical until you’ve fully examined and understood both sides of any issue.

Few things in life are black and white.  That’s why we have to learn to Grapple with the Gray.

This episode's ethical challenge:

On June 8, 1985, British climber Simon Yates was descending from the 21,000-foot summit of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes when his partner, Joe Simpson, fell and shattered his leg.  As blizzard conditions engulfed them, Yates turned to the grueling work of getting his friend down the mountain alive.

For nine hours, Yates labored to lower Simpson by rope down the steep incline 300 feet at a time. Then, Simpson lost purchase and began sliding out of control, his ice axe unable to bite into the powdery snow. 

Up above, Yates felt the rope jerk hard and knew that Simpson had gone over the edge. Yates still had control of the rope, literally holding Simpson’s life in his hands.  But frostbitten and exhausted after the previous day’s climb and the present day’s ordeal, Yates had no strength to pull his friend up.  All he could do was wait helplessly, which he did, as Simpson dangled above the abyss.

But after one hour, Yates felt the snow beneath his feet begin to give way.  In moments, he would be pulled down the slope and over the edge, together with Simpson.  Instinctively, he reached for his Swiss Army knife and cut the rope, knowing that he was letting his friend fall to his death.

Did Simon Yates do the right thing?

Meet this episode's panel:

Michael Alcee, Phd, is a clinical psychologist in private practice and at Manhattan School of Music whose mission is to inspire everyone to live life creatively.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-alcee-14417755/

Carey Portell is a partially disabled cowgirl and head-on collision survivor who inspires us to change perspectives by confronting our biggest fears.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carey-portell-a0724156/

Ipek Williamson is an Insight Coach, Meditation Advocate & Teacher who intends to bring the world closer to peace and calm, one beautiful soul at a time.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ipekwilliamson/

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Welcome to Grappling with the Gray, a forum for promoting the development of an ethical mindset and ethical decision-making to help us clearly see both sides of complex issues and better navigate the moral challenges of everyday life.

You can’t be ethical until you’ve fully examined and understood both sides of any issue.

Few things in life are black and white.  That’s why we have to learn to Grapple with the Gray.

This episode's ethical challenge:

About 20 years ago I was applying for life insurance.  The first question on the application form asked, “Have you ever gone skydiving?”

Well, I had gone skydiving, but that was back when I was a reckless sophomore in college.  I had no intention of ever jumping out of a plane again.

So what should I do?  Should I tell the truth and risk damaging my eligibility or incurring higher premiums?  Or should I lie to give a more accurate impression of who I am now?

Meet this episode's panelists:

Byron Edgington is a retired military pilot and co-author of "Journey Well: You are More than Enough."

https://www.linkedin.com/in/byronedgington/

S. Scott Mason, aka the Myth Slayer, is a transformation coach, speaker, and podcaster.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/smason1/

Diane F. Wyzga, JD, is a storyteller and global podcaster guiding professional woman to get to the heart of their message so they are seen, heard, understood, and listened to.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-f-wyzga-qmsa/

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Welcome to Grappling with the Gray, a forum for promoting the development of an ethical mindset and ethical decision-making to help us clearly see both sides of complex issues and better navigate the moral challenges of everyday life.

You can’t be ethical until you’ve fully examined and understood both sides of any issue.

Few things in life are black and white.  That’s why we have to learn to Grapple with the Gray.

This episode's ethical challenge:

In July 1977, a lightning strike in Westchester County set off a power outage that plunged New York City into 25 hours or darkness.  Flights were cancelled, baseball games suspended, and subway trains ground to a halt.  Looting spread through neighborhoods in Brooklyn and the Bronx, along with hundreds of fires set by arsonists.

Imagine that you were walking from your office in Brooklyn to catch the subway home when the lights went out.  Within moments, you hear the sound of shattering glass and see flames rising up into the sky.  A taxi pulls up beside you, and the cabbie yells, “You want to get out of here?”

It’s a $30 ride home, but you consider it a bargain.  As you climb in, the driver says, “For a hundred bucks I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”  The crowds seem to be growing more unruly by the moment.  “All right,” you say, “whatever you want.”

When the cabbie pulls up in front of your house, you say, “Listen.  I’ll pay the regular fare, and I’ll even give you a tip.  But I’m not paying you a hundred dollars.  That’s extortion.”

“A deal’s a deal,” the cabbie replies.  “You agreed to the price.  You have to pay.”

Who’s right?


Meet this episode's panelists:

Here are the panelists:

Dave Bricker is a speaker, presentation coach, and business storytelling expert.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbric...

Deb Brown Maher is a sales expert and the author of Sell Like Jesus. She equips others to sell and serve their customers with integrity and without compromise.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbrownm...

Mark O’Brien is a writer, columnist, and skeptic. He is founder and principal of O’Brien Communications Group, as well as co-founder and president of EinSource Consulting Services.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markobrien/

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