An Honest & Professional Businessman: Paul Brenneke

Paul Brenneke hears a number of adjectives and nouns attached to his name: efficient, organized, finance, real estate, banking… However, there are two adjectives that you’ll probably hear next to Paul Brenneke’s name more than any others: honest and professional.

As the CEO and founder of Guardian, a Boutique Investment Banking Firm, Paul Brenneke believes that honesty and professionalism are essential for success in the world of business. Developing and maintaining these two traits requires constant vigilance and a willingness to do the right thing – every time.

While Paul Brenneke wouldn’t necessarily promote himself as a “teacher” of honesty and professionalism, he has learned quite a few lessons in his 30 years of business in the banking, finance, and real estate industries. Here are a few of the lessons that he’d like to share with other professionals in those fields:

·       Speak out against injustice. It’s easy for professionals in any industry to go astray. Sometimes taking advantage of a system or position of power is all too easy. If you know of some kind of injustice, confront the individual first. If the individual shows no willingness to correct his or her behavior, then it might be time to take the problem to corporate authorities or the appropriate governmental authorities, advises Paul Brenneke.

·       Hold yourself to high standards. When you have high moral and ethical standards, then you know what is permissible and what is not. Knowing what you’ll do in a situation before you get in that situation is critical. That’s why Paul Brenneke believes it’s important to have some sort of moral code that you can operate out of.

·       Install regulatory systems. If you’re in a leadership position in your company, then Paul Brenneke highly advises that you install some regulatory systems to maintain honest and professional values in your company.