October 2, 2014
I Was A Role Model
I was a role model to my two boys. I was a role model to the young lawyers in my Law Firm. I was a role model to hundreds of children that I coached and managed in youth sports over the years. I sat on various boards in support of youth sports and charitable causes to enhance my community. The children that I coached and served are now between the ages of 18 and 27. I can only imagine their shock and disappointment when the news broke about Bank Fraud Charges being filed against me. I can see them sitting at dinner discussing my case with their Parents or friends and saying How could He do this? I can not even to begin to describe the hurt and anger in my son's eyes when I told him about my crime. How could I teach honesty,integrity and fair play and then go out and violate my own rules?
The simple answer to that question is that I placed myself in serious financial jeopardy through a series of poor investments and extraordinary financial expenditures and then selected the wrong way out of my financial problems. I could have asked for financial help from family or friends, but my pride prohibited me from doing so. I could have dramatically altered my lifestyle that I worked so hard to establish, but again, my pride would not allow me to do so. Instead, I rationalized my predicament and secretly blamed others for my situation. This allowed me to move forward and engage in fraudulent banking practices that I never would have imagined or considered a few years earlier. I took these actions despite alarms ringing in my head stating my moral compass was being severely compromised.
As a failed Role Model, I hope the people who once respected me and looked up to me can use my situation as a learning tool. I am now a role model for what not to do when facing a financial crisis.
Pride is a very Dangerous thing (and is also a sin). Never let your Pride force you into a situation where you are acting contrary to your own moral compass! If you find yourself considering actions that violate your moral code, seek immediate counsel with a close friend or family member. They will help you objectively review your situation and assist you in solving your problem in a proper fashion. If I had done this when I first ran into financial difficulties, I would not have succumbed to my pride and greed.
A failed role model. Just one more collateral consequence of my misdeeds.
Ken Flaska
