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During the Tylenol crisis, the company made an ethical decision that before risking even one more life to potential cyanide poisoning, economic sacrifice was necessary. Large amounts of product were destroyed, but Johnson & Johnson was not. ’’ But even Welch, the ultimate hardball player, believed that ‘‘excellence and competition are totally compatible with honesty and integrity. The A student, the four-minute miler, the high-jump world record holder—all strong winners—can achieve those results without resorting to cheating.

There are particularly strong warnings about abuses of power by those in high authority, as well as commands for leaders and followers at all levels to behave ethically. The following passage was written by Moses, centuries before Saul was anointed the first king of Israel. Moses was keenly aware of the potential for abuse of power by any leader, no matter how upright. Therefore, he suggested some safeguards, which we have too often ignored in selecting our modern business and political leaders (or which they have ignored even when they were in place): The king .

Gary Heavin is the founder of Curves for Women, an international franchisor of health clubs for women. Heavin, a conservative Christian, has based his company largely on New Testament principles. But ironically, he has attracted Chasidic Jews as franchisees. Why? ‘‘They tell me, ‘We appreciate your value system and your integrity. ’ ’’19 Dennis Bakke and Roger Sant, leaders of AES, a giant electric utility, also feel that the special ‘‘buy-in’’ they get from their employees is based on their value system: ‘‘Our main goal .