The Importance of a Good Reputation
Some may think reputation doesn't matter, or shouldn't matter. That we should all focus on doing our best, on being our best, and let others think what they may. Certainly, I agree we should never seek to manipulate what others think about us. Always be your genuine self, but to ignore the practical importance of a good reputation, cheats us of many opportunities we might otherwise enjoy. Caring about our reputation doesn't mean we need others to like us. Building a good reputation requires effort, patience, and time. Destroying a good reputation only requires a single moment by an enemy, even if the rumor isn't true. In all things, it's harder to build, than to destroy.
You can't stop others from criticizing you, but a good reputation can come to your rescue when others rise to your defense without your even knowing it. We are, in fact, all caretakers of one another's reputations. We all need to be kinder to and gentler with one another.
Your reputation reflects who you are. A good reputation means so much. You carry it with you for life. We can get our point across without cursing. Employers look at that. Our reputation is a tool, then—not for creating or maintaining our self-esteem, but for practical navigation through daily life, a good one smoothing out the journey, and a bad one causing doors to slam in our face and testing our confidence in ourselves.
As you can see, your reputation lives a very real existence apart from you. In the business world, as well as in our social lives, a person's reputation means everything. Your reputation precedes you. It speaks volumes of your character and who will trust you. It follows you all the days of your life, like it or not. It's one of the most valuable things you own. If you have a bad reputation in the business world, you can forget getting promoted. It shows whether or not you're worthy of trust. Likewise, if one borrows money from another friend or business partner, and doesn't pay it back, there goes their reputation down the drain. See if you get another loan. That's why there are credit checks.
Further, the young man or woman who is lazy, steals, does drugs, etc., is less likely to get hired for that job, once they hear of his/her reputation, so it is something of worth, to be cultivated and kept.
People have real good memories. Your reputation speaks volumes about you. For example, if one calls themselves a Christian, yet people see just the opposite in their words or actions, it kills their witness and reputation. That's why Jesus said to be a good example in word and deed. We are not to be stumbling blocks. He wants authentic disciples.
Steal money out of your mom's purse and see if she trusts you again. Lie to people, and see if they'll trust you again. Cheat people and see if they'll trust you again. So many examples.
"It takes 20 years to build a good reputation, and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently." - Warren Buffett
Mature people recognize this. My own father was the most honorable man I have ever known, and his reputation followed him all his life. He was well known and trusted wherever he went. I never knew him to ever lie to anyone, and he was always there when someone needed a helping hand. A good reputation is immeasurable and worth its weight in gold.
