Ever since we were toddlers parents, teachers, baby-sitters, and even older siblings have been telling us that we should “be good.” Back then these people had the ability to deliver uncomfortable consequences should we choose otherwise. And now? We don’t suffer from spankings or “time out” anymore, so why be good?

In our experience interviewing everyone from executives to mailroom clerks, employees who are good (who choose to act for the greater good of the company) don’t do so because someone is pointing a finger at them or moralizing at them. It’s not a “should” kind of thing. As you may well remember from childhood, the word “should” was universally abhorred and didn’t have that much effect.

So again, why would you want to act for the greater good? Whether we’re talking about not lifting a few items from the company supply rooms or keeping the decisions totally clean at an executive level, being good is good all around. Here are five reasons why being good works for you and everyone around you.

ONE: The Power of One
Studies have shown that people will act ethically and unselfishly if they think their actions will have an effect. If you don’t think that changing yourself will impact the world, check out what anthropologist and student of history Margaret Mead has to say on the subject: “Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

TWO: Your Influence
Whether or not you “do the right thing” and avoid illegally parking in the handicapped spot actually can and does influence other people. Most people have what is called a “threshold” for decision-making. The threshold represents the percentage of people they perceive as having made a particular choice. Most people have relatively low thresholds and when they see even a small number of other people making a certain choice they will follow suit (see Duncan Watts, “Six Degrees”). By choosing to act for the greater good, you become part of the threshold that can sway masses of other people to do the same.

THREE: Business Karma
The emerging science of networks tells us that we are all connected, not just globally but also within corporations. If you work in a huge organization, it may seem like anything you do that falls on the wrong side of “doing the right thing” won’t even make a dent. It will. Not only does your every action subtly alter the corporate culture (remember, you are a powerful influence), but studies show that every unethical choice sets the stage for the next one, making it easier and easier to avoid doing the right thing. At some point these actions become large enough to create a ripple in the corporation pond, which could affect your position or your paycheck.

FOUR: Too Many Good Companies
I have a little sideline hobby of buying, training, and reselling horses. Over time I’ve realized that trying to train a horse with a poor attitude is not worth the time or the energy. There are so many good horses out there that I no longer want to waste even a moment on one that doesn’t want to be part of the process. The same is true of companies. We interviewed employees and executives in many companies for The Art of Business, and found the difference in energy level, motivation, and enjoyment vastly different between top companies ruled by ethics and everyone else. There are too many environmentally-friendly ethical companies that are making a difference in the world to work for a shoddy one. Plus, it takes a fraction of the effort to do the right thing in a company where everyone already does the right thing.

FIVE: It’s More Fun
You spend at least one-third of your waking like working. Don’t you want it be fun? Do you want to always be looking over your shoulder? If you do the right thing you never have to, which makes more time for fun!