Integrity and brand building

Just as reputation plays an important role in the creation of a brand so too is it foundational to the development of a personal reputation an individual can be proud of. 

Benjamin Franklin reckons that ‘if you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing’.  

As with a brand then, and assuming you want to leave some sort of legacy, a personal reputation is just as important for individuals.  

I reckon reputation has one foundational personality trait:  Integrity. 

Integrity is an often misused word.  It means doing what you say you are going to do with honesty and truthfulness. 

A good reputation must enjoy public trust and strong equivalence between appearance and reality.  

How often have you met someone who can talk-the-talk but when it comes to delivery … well that’s another matter?

Make a decision today to walk-the-talk, not just talk it. 

To help you do that ask yourself two questions: What are you reading? and Who are you associating with? 

The idea here is that both influence who you are – this is something a parent readily recognises as they seek to protect their children from the influences of peer pressure and yet how few adults follow their own advice.  Where you will be in 5 years depends on both these factors – What are you reading? and Who you are associating with? – something obvious to Benjamin Franklin and critical to establishing your own personal reputation based on integrity. 

Make integrity the foundational personality trait in your life.  Integrity is inspirational.  Be inspired.

 

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