Character is like a tree and reputation like shadow
The shadow is what we think of it
The tree is the real thing
Abraham Lincoln
Character And Reputation
I led a team for several years, and I had a reputation for making things happen, being trustworthy, and being an expert in my field. After a break, I joined another organisation. While my CV told a good story, no one knew me at the new place. I found myself in a situation where my reputation was not known. A situation which found me having to work hard to rebuild my reputation with new people. In those early days, it bothered me. My standing with others was on shakier ground than it had been before. For a while, and to some extent, my lack of reputation shook my confidence.
It was in those early days that I found comfort in the fact that I knew my character was like a tree and was the real thing. I understood that reputation is simply a concept in my own mind and others’, while character is tangible and cannot be taken away.
When Your Opinion Counts
In this situation, I experienced what it was like when others were unsure of what I would do and how I would perform. This resulted in others checking in with me or questioning me to make sure I lived up to my promise. This put me slightly under scrutiny. Of course, all the self-awareness work I had undertaken in the past kicked in. I realised I was in danger of fulfilling a self-fulfilling prophecy around my lack of reputation. I knew I had to find my inner core. This is when I reminded myself that the only opinion I had to consider was my own. I knew my own opinion of myself, in a non-egotistical way, was sound. Over the years, I have worked diligently to develop my character. I knew I wasn’t perfect, but I also knew I always made an effort to do the best I could.
This quote is really about this: Reputation is simply a perception based on what you and others see in you over time. Character is the real deal; it is the congruent real you that you know exists, no matter what anyone else thinks.
