Well, welcome back.

I would have enjoyed hearing about the people who have influenced your life. There have been so many people that have influenced my life, and I'm grateful for so many who have meant so much.

Abraham Lincoln said this; "Nearly all men can withstand adversity. But if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

Lord Acton wrote a letter to his friend, Bishop Creighton, stating, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

So why does power corrupt? Psychologists refer to a paradox of power. The very traits that help a leader gain influence in the first place disappear once they're in power. And in some cases, instead of continuing to be polite, or honest, or thoughtful, or outgoing, the leader shifts and begins to become impulsive, reckless, controlling, and withdrawn.

According to psychologists, the common hazard of power is that people resort to nonproductive behaviours to sustain it.

So, why do so many powerful people behave badly when people feel power? There's a surge of dopamine that goes through our brain. And as a result of this, sometimes we feel like we can accomplish just about anything. We get this sense of invincibility; and that can tempt us to do things we ought not to do.

Now, do people with a lower power behave differently from people with a higher power? Let me ask you this question: Who is more likely to do this? To speak rudely; to have a sexual affair; to be unsympathetic or unfair; to feel entitled, or take resources that are not theirs; to excuse breaking rules or policies, or to demand recognition and privilege? Well, studies done by psychologist reveal that the answer to those questions is the same: People who have higher power levels are more prone to act in ways that are inappropriate than those who have less power.

So in my book Integrity: The Best Foundation, I present a well-documented story of a man called Joe. His father's name was Jacob. So we're going to call him Joe, Jacob's son. And Joe Jacobson was born into a very dysfunctional family; and his father favoured him above all of his brothers. And he placed Joe in a position of leadership over his brothers. Plus, he gave him a coat of many colours.

Now, Joe was an example of what happens when position outranks character. Joe Jacobson used his power for personal benefit. And he bullied his brothers. His story opens with the storyteller reporting one day in Joe's life where he intentionally used his power to oppress his brothers: So Joe brought an evil report to his father, in order to put down his brothers. And he was controlling, he was manipulative, he felt his position of favour made him superior. He acted proudly, as though he was entitled and had some special privilege.

And Joe, he had some big, big dreams. And he would pursue those dreams at all costs, even if his actions hurt those closest to him. And so, he being favoured, it affected his performance: rather than out-performing his brothers, he excused himself from fulfilling responsibilities. He stayed home while his brothers went to the field to work, and he failed to work alongside his brothers. He would become increasingly insensitive to his brothers. Then, one day, he went to visit his brothers as they were working far from home. And his false sense of security made him vulnerable, and blinded him to his brothers' hatred. That day, Joe Jacobson lost his power, and his brothers stripped him of his colourful robe and cast him into a pit. So Joe Jacobson discovered that his power had bankrupt him. He was not invincible. And power had blinded him to the concerns of those around him. Power had weakened him; and his moral reasoning and power had amplified his existing lack of good character. Power had begun to destroy. Joe.