Holly Pasut found herself in a moral debate which ultimately ended in an order to self surrender to federal prison. Pasut’s story will stop you in your tracks. She asks business men/women everywhere, “have you ever said yes when you should have said no?”
Saying goodbye to her three kids while being transferred to federal prison is not how Pasut saw her life going. All of this started when she found herself in a moral debate with her previous Mercedes salesman. After invoicing a referral bonus for referring a buyer to Pasut for a million dollar listing she was having a hard time selling, Pasut paid the invoice.
“My decision was not to commit mortgage fraud, but by me giving him the money, I helped him further his crime. One day he handed me a commission check. I said why are you giving this to me? And then I took it. It was totally irrational for him to give me a commission check until I rationalized it.”
Sticking to her routine in the confines of prison is what got Pasut through. She began each day with waking up at 5:00 a.m. for her morning coffee break, to journal and to talk to God. She was okay to do this as long as she was back in her cell by 5:15. She recalls a message from her pastor about what is left after a house burns down? The foundation is left standing. Pasut worked hard to make sure her foundation wasn’t altered while doing her time.
Pasut feels responsible for warning other agents against the blur of “critical thinking errors”. When you are more worried about disappointing others than disappointing yourself, you’re walking a fine line.
“Have you ever said yes when you should have said no?”
