Choices, criminality and career consequences

Glenford Smith, Career Writer

One day, some years ago, I had an unforgettable experience which impressed me indelibly with a crucial lesson which has served me well ever since. It's a lesson about choices, law-breaking and ensuing consequences for career and life, generally. I think you'll find that lesson equally valuable.

I was speeding through typical Kingston traffic to attend to an urgent work-related matter, when I was pulled over by the police. In an effort to be cooperative - with an ulterior motive, admittedly - I confessed to the officer, as I was handing him my papers, that I was in breach of the road traffic law, quite apart from speeding. He asked what I meant.

The fitness for my vehicle had expired the day before, I explained. Naturally, I had every intention of getting it dealt with within days, I assured him, in the most contrite and sincere tone I could muster. My problem, however, was that I had to drive the vehicle in the meantime. "Had to, Mr Smith?" he asked, having looked at my driver's license by then.

I replied that, yes, I had to drive the vehicle. I didn't have a choice, since I had a lot of urgent things to do. That, I explained, was the reason why I had not had the vehicle examined and certified fit in the first place.

He stopped flipping through my papers, looked me squarely in the eyes and said, "Sir, you always have a choice. You could have asked someone to take you to your appointment, taken the bus, or simply rescheduled it. You chose to drive a vehicle with an expired fitness." He proceeded to slowly write the tickets for the offences. I didn't say anything after that - except to mull over this hard lesson.

The consequence of that traffic stop was that I missed the appointment, and the opportunities I had expected to ensue from it. It was the recent conviction of dancehall god Adijah "Vybz Kartel" Palmer which stimulated the memory of that experience. I thought it highly instructive.

key lesson

The key lesson is that unlawful choices may derail or even terminate your career. Granted, only a relatively few people would ever expect to be charged with and convicted of murder. However, what about fraud, unlawful wounding, failure to provide child support, workplace theft, rape or carnal abuse, child or spousal abuse, vehicular manslaughter - or even failure to pay a traffic fine or appear in court?

Any of these, and countless other offences, which most people give little thought to, could land you in jail, or prison. Regardless of reports to the contrary, Vybz Kartel's ability to practise his craft and advance his career will be severely curtailed. He will lose multiple millions of dollars. Other DJs will replace and eclipse him.

Having a criminal conviction can have the same consequences for you, and me. Even a sentence of a few months can destroy your career prospects. Ex-convicts often find that most people don't trust them, and few will support them.

My advice? Choose not to do the crime, or it may cost your career, in time - and money.

Glenford Smith is a motivational speaker and success strategist. He is the author of the book From Problems to Power: How to Win Over Worry and Turn Your Obstacles into Opportunities.

Send feedback to glenfordsmith@yahoo.com