There are certain universal truths we encounter in life. “What goes around, comes around.” “You reap what you sow.” We hear them so often they can feel like clichés. But for me, one version of this principle, articulated by the great Earl Nightingale, has been the bedrock of my professional life: The Law of the Boomerang.

I’ve always believed in it, long before I could put a name to it. The idea is simple: what you send out—the energy, the effort, the thoughts, the actions—will always, without fail, return to you.

This isn’t some mystical, abstract concept. It’s a practical, observable law of consequences. And I credit my belief in this law for a milestone I’m incredibly proud of: surviving and thriving for over ten years in the virtual workforce, keeping many of the same clients I started with all those years ago.

In the world of remote work, trust is everything. A client can’t see you at a desk. They can’t see you typing away diligently. All they have to go on is the quality of your output and the integrity of your character. I decided early on that the boomerang I wanted to throw would be one of reliability, quality, and honest effort. I aimed to deliver more value than I was paid for, to communicate proactively, and to treat their business as if it were my own.

The result? The boomerang that came back to me was one of loyalty, respect, and consistent work. Clients I’ve worked with for years don’t micromanage me. They trust me. They send new projects my way without hesitation. This stability, this long-term partnership, is the direct return on the integrity I sent out.

But just as I’ve seen the rewards of a well-thrown boomerang, I have a regular, front-row seat to the opposite.

In one of my roles, I’m tasked with reviewing TimeDoctor screenshots from colleagues when they submit their invoices. And every single time, I see the other side of the law in action. I see the cheaters.

You can spot it easily. The tracker is on, the time is ticking, but the activity is a farce. You see a desktop frozen on the same screen for an hour, with just one or two mouse clicks to keep the timer from going idle. They are actively trying to get paid for doing nothing.

They are throwing a boomerang of deceit and minimal effort.

In the short term, do they get away with it? Yes. They get the paycheck for hours not truly worked. But what kind of boomerang are they setting in motion for the long term? It’s one of distrust. It will eventually come back as a lost contract, a damaged reputation, or a career that hits a ceiling because they’ve become known as someone who cuts corners. They trade long-term success for a short-term, dishonest gain. The boomerang always finds its way back.

Earl Nightingale taught that our rewards in life will always be in exact proportion to our contribution. You simply cannot expect a boomerang of success and loyalty to return to you if you are throwing out one of laziness and deceit.

In the virtual world, your work ethic is your signature. It’s what defines you when no one is watching. Every project completed, every deadline met, and every honest hour logged is you, throwing that boomerang out into the world.

After a decade in this industry, I am more convinced than ever of this law. The choice is always ours. What we send out will inevitably return. Make sure it’s something you’ll be happy to catch.