A Good Reputation

In my business, I often hear the word “reputation” when speaking with someone for the first time, be they a new client or a family or friend of a current client. For instance:

“Your reputation precedes you.”

“You have a reputation of calling it like it is.”

“You have a very good reputation in the community.”

“You have a reputation of being tough.”

It’s a funny thing, that word “reputation.”

We all have one; it’s one of our most precious assets. Yet, we only have INFLUENCE over our reputation, never CONTROL of it.

Our reputation represents the way others look at us and, at the same time, is both very important and very trivial.

Trivial, because if we have a healthy self-esteem, we won’t need others to think well of us.

Important, because even with a strong self-esteem we do live in a great social network, and we do need a good reputation for such practical things as, oh . . . I don’t know . . . friendship and income?!

It is the impression we make that molds how others perceive us. A good reputation takes a lot of hard work to build and maintain: It’s a long-term effort that requires discipline but it’s worth it.

A good reputation:

✅ Is one that others are eager to defend.
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✅ Provides us a target at which to keep aiming.
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✅ Inspires others.

And, in business, a good reputation represents a great marketing strategy.

Good people generate a good reputation.