Keep your credentials honest!

1. When is a fish story NOT a fish story?
Bill Leo – February 7, 2015
We’ve all heard it and or done it. We’ve gone fishing and caught nothing or caught the something that
got away. You get home after a day gone and your family asks “how fishing was?” You say you caught a
10lb bass. “I fought it for ten minutes, it felt like eternity but it got away. What a feeling.” Everyone was
mesmerized with the story and it ended. Everyone moves on. You were alone and only you knew you
caught a sunny and released it. Who can prove you wrong? No one! No harm, no foul.
That’s a fish story. But when someone like Brian Williams, “Americas most trusted News Source”
somehow starts with the truth in 2003 and twists it to become totally inaccurate, wrong, never
happened that way, but believable even to himself twelve years later, to have said “his helicopter was
forced down after being hit by an RPG” during the 2003 Iraq war, leaving him and his film crew stranded
in the desert for two long, scary nights. The story, while gripping enough, had just one flaw; it wasn't
true. That’s not a fish story. Mr. Williams admitted on air that he had erroneously “conflated” and
“misremembered”. Some may call it selective memory, but it needs to be called what it is. This is not
the first occurrence of inaccuracies being called out against respected and trusted professionals. What
has become mind boggling is how in today’s technological world of social media, someone can honestly
be dishonest?
Where and when did it all go wrong and become acceptable? Several years ago I interviewed a
candidate. As I went through the resume asking questions it was obvious the person sitting in front of
me was not the person on paper. I handed the resume to the candidate and they said, “I’m sorry I have
not done much of this.” “It’s not my resume. “ I contacted the agency and after several minutes got an
admission they “tweaked” the resume but only a little. A little? They had created a new candidate, one
that would fit the position, on paper. Did they think I wouldn't be able to figure out the lie? This placed
the candidate in a poor position, wasted hours of everyone’s time and of course I’ve never used the
agency again.
Many hiring managers have stories about the candidate that told a fish story. Some call it
embellishment of the truth. But isn’t it still a lie? If you pull a knife on someone, isn’t that intent to do
harm? That’s a crime. However, when someone says they accomplished XYZ or worked at company X
but didn’t, isn’t that also intent to do harm? To have someone hire you for achievements you never
achieved and or companies you have never worked. To be hired for a position you will most likely fail or
not be able to be of the value expected. Eventually the truth will prevail. Background checks and social
media scans may or may not pick up all inconsistencies. Why chance it? You are who you are. Your
professional accomplishments should be able to stand on their own merit. Be proud of them. If you are
lacking accomplishments strive to achieve some but really achieve.
Brian Williams was called out on Twitter and Facebook by the people who were there. It’s too easy to
get caught today. Your LinkedIn profile and other social media should be representative of your resume.
They should match. Your connections know if you are telling a fish story or not. Is your reputation and
credibility worth it? My Mother would say one lie leads to another lie and eventually you will slip up. It

2. happens all the time with criminals. Eventually they incriminate themselves. According to media
reports, Brian Williams leadership and some co-workers apparently knew the truth and never called him
out on it. They have now incriminated themselves and placed their reputation at risk. In the end, he
apologized, if you can call it that. In reality he did what has become the norm today. Do harm, get
caught, apologize and all is forgotten.
If you want to tell a fish story, make sure you were the only one there. No cameras were around and
you tell no one the truth. When you tell your buddy you only caught a sunny and released it, make sure
he never meets your family. Somehow they will find out the truth and the only bass caught is you but
without the “B”. Oops, I got caught, I apologize. “Honey see you later I’m going fishing.” “Okay, I hope
you catch a big one.” All is forgotten, or is it? What do they really feel about your reputation and
credibility? Why risk it?