Are Ethics in Business Lost? Part 1
Jason Yost • May 27, 2026
Are Ethics in Business Lost? Part 1:
Why It Is Important to Have a Principle-Based Business
"When work starts with everyone seeking compromise, what's necessary only happens by accident." ~ Jason Yost
One of the biggest problems that our clients describe to us when first calling is unethical behavior in restoration companies, mold assessment companies, and like businesses. While they want to trust someone to serve their needs, they keep running into questionable or obvious fraud and abuse in these industries. We, here at Gulf Coast IAQ, see it too. As a company that is often called upon to review others' work and testify in legal cases, we see it too often. It is because of these concerns and observations that we have written this series on ethics in the water, fire, and mold remediation, restoration, and assessment industries. We hope it helps...
We, here at Gulf Coast IAQ, have no delusions about how intelligent and perceptive people are. We belive that everyone has a God-given ability to understand and act on that understanding, and how we treat others, more specifically where our heart is, is something that is very clear to others and something they measure accurately and with good reason: They are looking for someone with whom they can trust. A huge responsibility for anyone who earns that trust.
One of the ways people understand a heart to serve is based on how empowered they are while (1) working alongside you, (2) consuming your product or service, (3) and/or the quality of their lives upon your entry into it. If they are sensing an individualized empowerment from your presence, they are more likely to want you around. (Key word here being WANT. It is one thing to need something - another for someone to sense a desire for another's service or product.)
None of this comes without heartfelt service and team-work. In our line of work , we not only work for people, serving their needs and desires for a safe and healthy environment, we also work with their service providers (e.g., mold remediators, fire restoration contractors, and insurers) as a consultant, so that any needed work is performed per expectations, needs, and desires - without risk to anyone involved. This is an impossibility for those who refuse to open their hearts, minds, and souls to others. Listening, investigating, learning, sharing, and caring are all ingredients in the receipt for success here. And, when combined with an honest heart to serve and the resource of empowerment - persistent against conflicts, limitations, complications, and so forth - the fruits of labor come in the form of trust, success, safety, and good health.
But none of these principles would amount to a thing if not foundationed upon the truth (John 14:6). Having real faith in God - that is a faith that is alive and active (James 2:14-26) - is that truth upon which Gulf Coast IAQ has been foundationed. It is this foundation that makes perfect all of the other principles and the heart, mind, body, and soul of the one serving. Without knowing and trusting God, nothing we attempt to do, in our service to others or ourselves, will succeed. That is why faith in God is our first principle.
"As each one has been given a special gift, use it in service to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" ~ 1 Peter 4:10
Are Ethics in Business Lost? Part 2: Why It Is Important to Have a Heart to Serve
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