In my short story Sleeping with the Client, a young advertising account executive makes a desperate choice to seduce a powerful client to save his job, blurring the lines between ambition and integrity. It’s a fictional exploration of how far someone might go to succeed, but it’s rooted in a very real question: How do you pursue success without losing yourself?
That question is one I’ve faced throughout my career. I’ve worked in the fast-paced industries of entertainment and advertising, from Madison Avenue to the Sunset Strip. Early on, I even spent years in the nightlife of the restaurant business. To most people’s surprise, I don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs—and I never have. One thing that worked in my favor was that I didn’t move to Los Angeles until I was 30.
By the time I arrived, I was confident in who I was, and my values were set. But it could have been a very different story. When I first wanted to move to LA right out of Southside High School in Greenville, SC, my older brother gave me advice that changed everything: “Slow down, kid. Move to Atlanta first. See if you can survive in a city this size before you move all the way out west.” He was right. That extra time in Atlanta gave me the foundation I needed to stay true to myself in a city that often tests your values.
Looking back, I know I could have taken shortcuts. I could have stayed at those late-night industry parties in New York or LA, schmoozed with the right people, and reaped certain benefits. But I didn’t. And while my journey may have been slower, it’s also been more fulfilling.
Here’s what I’ve learned about walking the fine line between ambition and integrity.
1. Define Your Values Early
The first step to maintaining integrity is knowing what truly matters to you. For me, it was about staying clear-headed and being fully present in my work. Starting in Atlanta gave me time to figure out who I was and what I stood for, so by the time I moved to LA, I had a strong sense of right and wrong.
Why it matters: When you define your values early, you can make decisions that align with them, even under pressure.
2. Choose Relationships Over Transactions
Networking can feel like a numbers game, but the most valuable connections are genuine. While in LA, I constantly met new people. But I never lost touch with my friends from Atlanta—both those who moved with me and those who stayed behind.
Those friendships kept me grounded and reminded me of where I came from. Real relationships, not transactional ones, are what build trust and open doors.
Why it matters: Authentic relationships outlast the fleeting advantages of transactional networking.
3. Play the Long Game
Shortcuts might open doors, but they rarely lead to lasting success. My ticket from the ATL to LA was my job as a corporate trainer for Houston’s Restaurants. It was a sweet gig. When I wasn’t traveling around the country, opening new restaurants, I worked as a server at the now-closed Century City location.
One regular customer, a producer, always promised to give me a shot if the opportunity came up. For five years, I kept showing up and doing my job well. When the moment came, he hired me to work on a Disney Channel show. That was my big break.
Why it matters: Playing the long game builds credibility and lasting success.
4. Accept That Saying ‘No’ Is a Superpower
The ability to say no is one of the strongest tools you have to stay true to yourself. I’ve had my share of opportunities to say yes to things that could have taken me down a very different path—but I didn’t.
There was the time a male journalist propositioned me, pretending to write a feature story about me as an up-and-coming writer/director. He dangled the promise of exposure, but his intentions weren’t professional. I said no.
Or the time I was hanging with the homies and they offered me some blow. I said no. I didn’t judge them for their choices, but I knew that wasn’t the road I wanted to go down.
Now, I was never invited to one of Diddy’s legendary Freak-Offs, but if I had been, I know I would have said no. Why? Because no opportunity, no matter how shiny it appears on the surface, is worth compromising your integrity.
Sometimes, saying no can feel like you’re shutting doors, but in reality, you’re protecting the future you’re building for yourself.
Why it matters: Saying no to the wrong opportunities clears the way for the right ones—ones that align with your values and allow you to build a life and career you’re proud of.
5. Be Prepared to Work Harder
Choosing integrity sometimes means working harder. One morning, I sat down to work on my screenplay, and my computer crashed. I couldn’t afford to replace it and went to my restaurant shift that night feeling defeated.
My first customer that evening was Neil Simon, the greatest living playwright in America. He was sitting at his table with a yellow legal pad and a pencil, writing.
After my shift, I went to Walgreens and bought a legal pad and pencils. I kept writing until I could save enough for a new computer.
Why it matters: Hard work and resourcefulness keep your dreams alive, no matter the circumstances.
The Benefit of Staying True to Yourself
The journey to success is filled with challenges, but when you stay true to your values, your achievements are genuinely yours. You don’t have to compromise your integrity to succeed—you’re enough as you are.
If this theme resonates with you, I invite you to explore my short story Sleeping with the Client. It’s a fictional tale that delves into how ambition and desire can blur the lines of integrity, with lessons that apply to us all.
Visit gregkerns.tv to read the story and discover how far one person might go to succeed—and whether it’s worth it.