Be and do…

Your character is who you are, not who you appear to be. Your reputation is who people think you are. John Adams knew the diff. His nightly prayer with his children was ccd and reflected his understanding of first things first. He did not ask God to help his offspring “look good.” “Be good and do good,” was his cry to God and challenge to his children. Leaders, remember, you cannot control your reputation. You can control your character.

Be good and do good.

Ask God for help. And, remember, those closest to you may know your character better than you. Why? Simple, really. Now more than ever, we are much more attentive to others weaknesses, faults, and shortcomings. Why else would “reality shows” (trainwrecks) dominate social media around the globe. We love to focus on the jersey shore, atlanta housewives, kartrashians, or the latest celebrity on self destruct. We see others faults and congratulate ourselves for being better than the worst among us.

Our focus is misplaced. We guard our reputation. We focus our deepest, most strategic thinking toward the preservation of our most beloved: our reputation. Nobody knows us. Nobody sees. We look out the window and blame other people and circumstances for what’s happening in here. We live with lifes chronic pain and cynicism creeps ever and ever closer in.

The recipe for getting better is a complete reversal. STOP focusing on what and who you cannot control. Look in the mirror. See the integrity gaps in your character. See the habits of your heart where you exspouse one thing and do another. See the habits where you are not good and do harm. Ask a truth teller to help you see some of those blindspots you simply cannot see. Ask them to “tell you more” instead of telling them to shove off. Become a student of yourself. Ask God for some help. Slow down so you can let it in. Quietly, invest some time in your room…

Alone.

Your reputation is not yours to control. Focus on your character. We are desperately in need of some leaders who are focused on being good and doing good. Be one…