Clearly, spilling the beans of the nation’s top secrets is not cool.

On the other hand, perhaps it is time for us to catch up to the Internet age.† Here is the new reality:† There are NO secrets anymore. See the Huffington Post.

If you lie on your resume, you will be exposed.† If you plagiarize someone else’s work, you will hear about it. If you send a libelous e-mail to a friend, you may find yourself in court.†If you gossip on Facebook expect to be challenged. † The Internet is our new conscience.† There is nowhere to hide anymore.† State secrets will find their way into the public domain no matter how many safeguards are put in place.

This suggests that we are vulnerable.

But another way of looking at all this is that we have entered a new era of transparency that requires†a new way of conducting ourselves – personally, organizationally, politically and nationally.†† The more open we are about†our motives and intentions, the more others will trust us. Less suspicion will lead to greater collaboration in pursuit of the good of the whole.

It suggests that we need to follow a new rule – Never say or write anything that you wouldn’t want your mother,†your best friends, or even your enemies, to know. If it is something that improves the world, you will be loved for it.† If it is something that harms the world, you will be pilloried for it.

So we are back to basics really – not just the Golden Rule (Always treat others as you would like them to treat you), but the Platinum Rule: “Always treat others as they would like to be treated”.† The Internet may be new, but the rules for creating an inspiring world, and being an inspiring leader, are as old as time.