How To Kill Your Reputation

“It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” - Benjamin Franklin

We have all seen it and have been heart broken by it.  Those we have respected and looked up to who have fallen in some way.  We have seen religious leaders, politicians, prominent business leaders and others, who were once looked up to now scorned and broken.  The world is a cruel place and soon their mistakes are posed for all to see and forgiveness is out of the question.  We may forgive and help recover, but a damage reputation is a hard thing to restore.

                This is not a problem just for those in public office or of notoriety.  Yes, we common, everyday people face the same danger and trial.  Many people have worked at building their reputations, made a mistake along the way and found it all crumble at their feet.  It is heartbreaking to say the least.

                Is there hope for restoration and healing?  Yes there is.  Many have come back stronger and better than before.  Those who have learned from their mistakes, took responsibility for their action and did the work to restore themselves have, in the end, come out on top.

                The key is not to find yourself in this position in the first place.  None of us are perfect, but we can all learn from the mistakes of others and make the needed changes in our lives now so as not to be forced to change later. 

                There are four main stumbling blocks that we must avoid in order to keep from falling.  These are greed, anger, selfishness and power.  Each in their own way can take a good reputation and destroy it quickly and surely.

Greed

                Many a success-minded person has started out with a good desire to achieve their goals and to build a good financial living.  The desire to live well can be a trap to the weak.  You begin to see money and things not as tools to be used but possessions to be owned.  The desire soon moves from being a dream to an addiction.  Money and things become more important than people and your own character.  American Psychologist, Erick Fromm said, "Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction."

                Success means that you have learned to keep things in perspective.  There is nothing wrong with wealth, there is a problem when wealth becomes the goal.  There is an old saying, "Do not love money and use people, love people and use money."  The best antidote for greed is to be generous with others.  Character is not how good you think you are but how good others see you.

Anger

                Nothing can kill a reputation faster than anger.  When we allow anger to control us we say and do things that will come back to destroy us one day.  Mark twain once said, "Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured."  Anger is a cancer that will eat you alive if you do not control it.

                The strongest antidote to anger is that of a positive mental attitude.  A positive attitude is not thinking everything is okay when it is not, but it is knowing that every problem has a solution and you can work anything out.  The person who stays positive and allows kindness to be their guide will never have to regret what they do in anger.

Selfishness

                Success-minded people know that the selfish person can never really achieve full success.  Why?  Because success is more about living for others than it is about living for yourself.  You make a very small world.  Success comes when we are not only part of the world but we know we make that world better.  Author Napoleon Hill said, "Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and never the result of selfishness."

Power

                The thirst for power and the destruction that it brings is the bases for many a downfall.  Throughout history and to this present day, many a great man or woman has come to their downfall all for the desire for power.  The thing about power is that those who truly have it do not strive for it.  Power belongs to people of character and integrity who get things done.  A great leader is one how has people who follow them, not one who forces people to follow them.  As former British Prime Minister, Lady Margaret Thatcher wisely said, "Power is like being a lady...if you have to tell people you are, you aren't."

To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey