When is a fish story NOT a fish story?

Bill Leo – February 7, 2015

We’ve all heard it and or done it. We’ve gone fishing and caught nothing or caught the something that

got away. You get home after a day gone and your family asks “how fishing was?” You say you caught a

10lb bass. “I fought it for ten minutes, it felt like eternity but it got away. What a feeling.” Everyone was

mesmerized with the story and it ended. Everyone moves on. You were alone and only you knew you

caught a sunny and released it. Who can prove you wrong? No one! No harm, no foul.

That’s a fish story. But when someone like Brian Williams, “Americas most trusted News Source”

somehow starts with the truth in 2003 and twists it to become totally inaccurate, wrong, never

happened that way, but believable even to himself twelve years later, to have said “his helicopter was

forced down after being hit by an RPG” during the 2003 Iraq war, leaving him and his film crew stranded

in the desert for two long, scary nights. The story, while gripping enough, had just one flaw; it wasn't

true. That’s not a fish story. Mr. Williams admitted on air that he had erroneously “conflated” and

“misremembered”. Some may call it selective memory, but it needs to be called what it is. This is not

the first occurrence of inaccuracies being called out against respected and trusted professionals. What

has become mind boggling is how in today’s technological world of social media, someone can honestly

be dishonest?

Where and when did it all go wrong and become acceptable? Several years ago I interviewed a

candidate. As I went through the resume asking questions it was obvious the person sitting in front of

me was not the person on paper. I handed the resume to the candidate and they said, “I’m sorry I have

not done much of this.” “It’s not my resume. “ I contacted the agency and after several minutes got an

admission they “tweaked” the resume but only a little. A little? They had created a new candidate, one

that would fit the position, on paper. Did they think I wouldn't be able to figure out the lie? This placed

the candidate in a poor position, wasted hours of everyone’s time and of course I’ve never used the

agency again.

Many hiring managers have stories about the candidate that told a fish story. Some call it

embellishment of the truth. But isn’t it still a lie? If you pull a knife on someone, isn’t that intent to do

harm? That’s a crime. However, when someone says they accomplished XYZ or worked at company X

but didn’t, isn’t that also intent to do harm? To have someone hire you for achievements you never

achieved and or companies you have never worked. To be hired for a position you will most likely fail or

not be able to be of the value expected. Eventually the truth will prevail. Background checks and social

media scans may or may not pick up all inconsistencies. Why chance it? You are who you are. Your

professional accomplishments should be able to stand on their own merit. Be proud of them. If you are

lacking accomplishments strive to achieve some but really achieve.

Brian Williams was called out on Twitter and Facebook by the people who were there. It’s too easy to

get caught today. Your LinkedIn profile and other social media should be representative of your resume.

They should match. Your connections know if you are telling a fish story or not. Is your reputation and

credibility worth it? My Mother would say one lie leads to another lie and eventually you will slip up. It

happens all the time with criminals. Eventually they incriminate themselves. According to media

reports, Brian Williams leadership and some co-workers apparently knew the truth and never called him

out on it. They have now incriminated themselves and placed their reputation at risk. In the end, he

apologized, if you can call it that. In reality he did what has become the norm today. Do harm, get

caught, apologize and all is forgotten.

If you want to tell a fish story, make sure you were the only one there. No cameras were around and

you tell no one the truth. When you tell your buddy you only caught a sunny and released it, make sure

he never meets your family. Somehow they will find out the truth and the only bass caught is you but

without the “B”. Oops, I got caught, I apologize. “Honey see you later I’m going fishing.” “Okay, I hope

you catch a big one.” All is forgotten, or is it? What do they really feel about your reputation and

credibility? Why risk it?