“You can’t control your reputation, but you can control your character.”

When it comes to character in today’s business world, many individuals have developed the thought process that they can get away with anything, as long as no one finds out. We have seen this type of deplorable behavior in Bernie Madoff. He believed that as long as no one knew what he was doing behind closed doors, there was nothing wrong with it. He later discovered that that is not the way things work. Once his misdeeds were discovered, he was indicted and convicted. This realization that he was not in control of everything, likely crumbled his world. His behavior cost him his business, reputation, and freedom.

It has become more common for us to hear of someone in the business world who has bad character rather than someone who goes out of their way to work in a positive manner. This is likely because reporting on bad behavior garners more attention than reporting on the good that so many others regularly do. Negative attention is not something that you should strive for when you begin your career. Rather, you should recognize that those who possess good character can be just as successful as those who have taken shortcuts to get to the level where they are.

When it comes to the reputation you wish to accompany your name, you should ensure that you have done everything within your power to ensure that it is a positive one. Establishing a positive reputation will ensure that others feel comfortable doing business with you and trusting you with their investments. At the end of the day, your reputation is what others will use to judge your character, ensuring that it is positive is extremely important to your success.

If you are the leader of a corporation, it is extremely important that you remember that your actions can affect the brand of the company. If you act in a negative manner, the brand that you represent, whether it is your own or someone else’s will be seen in a negative way. If you are the head of a business, you should act in a positive manner and have a level of character that is unquestionable. You are the face of your brand, you should act in that manner and your character should be beyond reproach.

Make it easy! Do what you say you are going to do and be the same person behind closed doors as you are in the public eye. Character pays off. Isn’t that a better legacy to leave for people to remember you by?

Would you agree?