I’d do anything to…

“I’d do anything to become a millionaire… to buy a Lamborghini… to make it to the White House…”

Every time I hear someone say that, the first thought that crosses my mind is: At what cost?

Because saying “I’d do anything” really means:

“I’m willing to sacrifice my integrity, values, and principles and destroy anything that gets in my way.”

That’s where my core principle comes in: integrity. Which I believe is the foundation of sustainable success.

Philosopher Immanuel Kant argued that we should never throw away our values just to get somewhere faster.

A study in moral psychology by Jonathan Haidt found that people who compromise their core values for external rewards often suffer long-term consequences: stress, burnout, shame, and damaged relationships. Even when they “win,” they don’t feel like winners.

Psychologist Martin Seligman also showed that people who live by their values even when it’s hard, report higher levels of well-being and life satisfaction. His PERMA model highlights five key elements of a fulfilling life: Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. Compromising your values might get you one of those, but you’ll likely lose the rest.

Integrity-Driven Ambition

Here’s how I see it:

“I’ll do everything I can, within my values and principles, to reach my goal. And if I don’t get there, I’ll still be proud of the journey — because I enjoyed every second of it.”

This mindset means holding yourself to a higher standard, even when shortcuts tempt you. It means choosing long-term respect over short-term gain.

Don’t trade your soul to get what you want.