Character and Reputation
I’ve noticed an interesting principle in the corporate world lately. I think it was there several years ago when I was working full time, but for some reason I’m seeing it more clearly today. The principle is played out in individuals’ attempts at climbing the corporate ladder. They carefully weigh each rung of the ladder, and try to play every opportunity to their greatest advantage. They monitor how they look to others and use words like “self-promotion” to express their attempts to maximize their career aspirations.
I could see myself getting caught in the same trap, but I realize now that a paradox is at work. As hard as I try, I cannot control what others think of me. That’s the nature of our ability to think independently. Your opinion of me is just that: your opinion. I may call what others think, “my reputation,” but in the end, I’m really saying that a lot of people hold the same opinion of me. Does my reputation really mean anything more than that?
John Wooden talked about this very thing, saying that you cannot control your reputation. You can only control your character. The decisions I make that are character decisions, if they are consistent, will eventually shape the opinion others have of me. If I consistently choose poorly, and compromise my character, my reputation - and the opinion others hold, will likely suffer greatly. If I consistently choose wisely, my reputation may improve, but it may not. The opinion of others is very fickle.
Think about the difference between these two efforts: building my reputation or building my character. If I strive to build my reputation, what am I really doing but trying to win at the game of politics? If instead I endeavor to build my character, I’ll be a better person - stronger and more capable regardless of others’ opinions. And when a crisis hits - will it matter what others have thought of me all along? Not in the least. Character is revealed in crisis - but it is formed much earlier. A reputation has too little substance to withstand a crisis. But if a reputation is built on character, the reputation will stand because the person’s character supports it.
So I will work on building strong character traits and let my reputation be supported by it.