Recently, a CEO was caught in a compromising situation with a woman who was not his wife, on a kiss cam at a musical concert. While this might seem like a private matter, the consequences were immediate and far-reaching, both personally and professionally. Once an image like that is captured and shared on social media, it remains visible forever. The only positive outcome? It’s a wake-up call to all of us: your life and legacy can easily unravel with poor decisions.
Billy Graham, one of the most influential Christian evangelists of the 20th century, understood this risk. During his decades-long ministry, which spanned over 185 countries and reached more than 215 million people, he established a code of conduct for himself and his team, known as the Modesto Manifesto. One core element of this code became known as the Billy Graham Rule: never meet, dine, or travel alone with a woman who is not your wife.
This principle wasn’t about distrust. It was about integrity—avoiding temptation, guarding against false accusations, and preventing even the appearance of impropriety. In 2017, it gained renewed attention as the Mike Pence Rule, named after the former U.S. Vice President who upheld the same practice.
I witnessed this rule in action firsthand during one of my executive assignments with a family-owned manufacturing company. The CEO enforced what we called the “Rule of Three”: male and female employees were never to travel alone together. A third person was always required—an extra layer of accountability and professionalism. Did it guarantee fidelity? Of course not. However, it removed ambiguity and reduced both moral and reputational risk.
Some critics—especially from more secular or progressive circles—view the Graham/Pence Rule as outdated or even misogynistic. But most common-sense leaders understand it for what it is: a practical safeguard rooted in wisdom and self-discipline.
I’m grateful to have worked for a CEO who valued character and protected his team accordingly. The incident on the Jumbotron at that Coldplay concert is a cautionary tale. It reminds us that moral failure doesn’t begin with scandal—it starts with compromise.
If this sounds overly pious—good.
#BillyGrahamRule #Leadership #CodeofConduct #MikePenceRule #FaithAndLeadership #ChristianValues #MoralLeadership #IntegrityMatters #LiveAboveReproach #GuardYourHeart #FleeTemptation #FaithInAction #LeadershipMatters #WorkplaceEthics #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadWithIntegrity #ProfessionalBoundaries #CorporateCulture #ValuesBasedLeadership #LegacyMatters #CharacterCounts #WalkingInTruth
