Read any business news and you’ll find stories of entrepreneurs who are out to change the world. They have some great product that will help a lot of people. They create inclusive, empowered, human-centric workplaces. Their employees are innovative and focused on customer success. They’re on a roll.

But after some initial accomplishments, something happens. Some change in thinking causes the ideals that were priorities to be thrown away in favor of quick results. And with enough quick results comes a sign on the lawn announcing that the business is for sale.

This move from high ideals and vision to get-results-and-sell-out-for-a-bag-full-of-cash has become an epidemic.

I’ve experienced it personally. I’ve seen several good people who started businesses for all the right reasons succumb to the grip of “build it, sell it, and make your nut.”

What is the cause?

Status? Perhaps. Greed? Maybe. Character sliding? Very likely.

But what exactly is character sliding?

Character is essentially living your values. It’s about making decisions that line up with what you stand for.

Character sliding begins when you start making little exceptions that counter your values. These little exceptions snowball into bigger and bigger ones until your values get so watered down that they get lost. Once lost, all bets are off. You are open to whatever brings gain regardless of how far it is from those ideals you were so passionate about. And while the short-term returns can be satisfying, the long-term impact can be devastating.

There is an antidote, though, but it is not easy. It requires closing your ears to all those who suggest the easy route of compromise for personal gain. It requires going against the popular grain of wealth above principle and standing firm on what matters most.

Are you an entrepreneur (or anyone for that matter) out to change the world? Be mindful of the character slide. Be mindful of those who might lure you to the slippery slope. Be mindful that standing up for what you believe, while seen by many as a weakness born of naive optimism, is actually a strength born of courageous vision.

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